Saluting the patriotic people of Jammu for waging an agitation over the Amarnath land row despite heavy odds, the international general secretary, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Dr Parveen Togadia said that it was for the first time that Jammuites made Kashmiris and Delhi to bow and asked them to take revenge of continued discrimination with the region through ballot in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Addressing the gathering at Jammu, Dr Togadia said: ?There is no where an example of such a movement in the history as Jammuites have created?, and added that the people of Jammu should remember whatever happened with them in the recent months. Complete shutdown for two months with swarms of people taking to streets not only forced the separatists in the Kashmir valley to go on back foot but New Delhi too had to bow before them, he said.
VHP leader further said: ?Now the time has come for the people of Jammu to make it clear to Kashmir and New Delhi that from now on the people of Jammu are not going to tolerate any discrimination.?
The function was organised by Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti to honour a dozen martyrs during a 62-day-long Jammu agitation and assisting their dependents with the cash assistance of rupees four lakh each in a peaceful manner. Dr Togadia on behalf of the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti honoured kin of 12 ?martyrs? besides a youth Pawan who lost his eyesight in police firing at Akhnoor. He was presented Rs four lakh in the form of a cheque and an FDR at Sanatan Dharam Higher Secondary School, Rehari, Jammu on October 5.
Earlier addressing the function, Shri Leela Karan Sharma, convenor Sangarsh Samiti, said after forcing the Kashmiri Pandits out of Valley and changing the name of some of the historical and religious places the separatists and secessionist elements in Valley were eyeing on holy shrine of Amarnath also.
Smt Shilpa, wife of martyr Kuldeep Dogra (Verma) of Bishnah, Smt Shub Kiran, wife of martyr Ramesh Kumar of Pir Mitha, Jammu, Smt Manjit Samyal, wife of martyr Jugal Kishore of Samba, Shri Khem Raj Padha, father of martyr Suny Padha, Smt Sapna Samyal, wife of martyr Sanjeev Singh, Smt Rita Devi, wife of martyr Narinder Singh, Smt Uma Khajuria, wife of martyr Balwant Khajuria, Chaman Lal, father of martyr Deepak Kumar, Smt Garu Devi, wife of martyr Bodh Raj were paid a cash assistance of Rs four lakh each besides a certificate. The cash assistance of Rs four lakh with a certificate was given away to father of martyr Jaswant Singh of Ghagwal and wife of martyr Sunil Singh of Samba.
However no family member of martyr Manjit Kumar, son of Chuni Lal of Doda, was present at the function to receive the cash assistance. It will be handed over to family later by the Samiti.
Also the saints including Mahant Rameshwar Dass of Purani Mandi temple, Shri Keshav Dass of Lalay Da Bagh, Mahant Shub Narayan Dass, Shri Shantanu Maharaj of Shiv Khori, Mahant Ajay Dass Bairagi and Mahant Swami Sarwanand were also honoured for their role and contribution in the agitation. The vote of thanks was proposed by Brig. (Retd) Suchet Singh.
