Jammu, Oct 21: As many as 20 political and social organizations, civil society, intellectuals, lawyers, students and youth associations and trade bodies on Wednesday joined hands and passed a resolution in Jammu christened as ‘Jammu Declaration’ seeking statehood for Jammu region.
The participants of Jammu region have alleged persistent neglect and deprivation faced by the people of the region in multifarious fields including general development, funds allocation, tourism promotion, employment etc for the past several decades.
The participants observed that the disregard for the incarcerated Jammu region continued even post re-organization of J&K state and abrogation of Art 370 thereby leaving statehood as the only available option for the people of Jammu region.
The meeting was convened by Chairman JKNPP, Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and Former Minister.
Representatives of Shri Amar Kashatriya (Rajput) Sabha; Dogra Sadar Sabha; Shiv Sena (Bal Thakray); Hindu Shiv Sena; Shri Ram Sena; Sainik Samaj Party; IKKJUTT Jammu; JPPF; UDA; All India Batwal Biradari Welfare Association; ‘Jammu Ki Yuva Soch’ besides others attended the ‘Jammu Declaration’.
Speaking on the occasion, Harsh Dev said that even after the abrogation of Art 370, Jammu continues to suffer and bleed.
“The much touted slogans of Jammu’s empowerment and equitable share in state’s resources besides assured benefits of several other central laws and schemes have proved a hoax,” he said.
While Ladakh and Kashmir continue to receive the focused attention of the centre, what actually fall in the lap of a marginalized Jammu region is mere peanuts, he said, “the first select list issued post de-organization of state by the government relates to Fire Services Department wherein Jammu region has got a bare sprinkling in the form of 10 percent share while the major decisions continue to be taken keeping Kashmir in mind.”
Asserting that Jammu Pradesh was the biggest causality of the Kashmir crisis, Singh said that there was no justification whatsoever in clubbing Jammu with Kashmir and classifying it as a Union territory.
