Countrywide protest organised to warn UPA government on Interlocutors’ Report
Pramod Kumar
The entire country unitedly expressed strong resentment against the Interlocutors’ Report on Jammu & Kashmir terming it a treasonous document prepared to promote the separatists voice on public expenses. All sections of the society joined the protest meetings, dharnas, demonstrations and public meetings organised from July 6 to 8 across the country.
At some places the protesters burnt the copies of the Interlocutors’ Report. By and large the whole nation not only rejected the Report but also warned the Congress-led UPA government not to further test the patience of the countrymen on Kashmir. Majority of the protest meetings were held on July 6, the birth anniversary of Jan Sangh founder Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee.
“The protest meetings were held in all the states and all sections of the society joined them. There are confirmed reports of organising demonstrations in all state capitals and district headquarters. In some parts the meetings were held at taluk headquarters also. The protest meetings were addressed by senior leaders of the various organisations which supported the protest,” said Shri Arun Kumar, Akhil Bharatiya Sah Sampark Pramukh of RSS while talking to Organiser. The protest in Delhi will be organised on July 16.
Tamil Nadu
An impressive protest public meeting was held in Chennai on July 6. Over 500 people comprising of men and women from all walks of life attended the meeting to show their solidarity for saving Kashmir. The meeting started with a song of Bharathiyar. Shri Durai Shankar, Chennai City Sanghachalak, presided over the meeting.
Shri Veerabaghu, editor of Vijayabharatham, highlighted the concessions extended to Jammu & Kashmir, which are not applicable to rest of the country. Smt Vanathi Srinivasan, state BJP secretary (women wing) elaborately explained the genesis of the problem and held Pt Jawaharlal Nehru responsible for the whole mismanagement of the issue. Shri Prakash, Chennai Sah Vibhag Karyavah, narrated the sacrifices made by the Sangh swayamsevaks in protecting Kashmir and various services rendered to the Indian Army in this respect. Shri Ramagopalan, founder of Hindu Munnani cautioned the public about some Muslim elements that are functioning in Chennai also on similar lines that exist in Kashmir. There are reports of organising similar type of protest meetings in others parts of the state also.
Karnataka
The protest meeting in Bengaluru was organised in front of the Town Hall on July 6. RSS Kshetra Bauddhik Pramukh Shri V Nagraj while addressing the gathering termed the report as purely anti-national. “Throughout the report, the points have been mentioned favouring another Partition and separatism. It directly echoes the sentiments of the separatists,” he said describing Dileep Padgaonkar, head of the three member interlocutors’ team, as ‘Paid’ Gaonkar.
Shri Pranesh Nagari, president of Kashmiri Hindu Association, Karnataka, presided over the meeting. Shri Ullas, co-convenor of Hindu Jagaran Vedike, Karnataka, delivered the key note address. Later, a delegation led by RSS Prant Karyavah Shri N Tippeswamy presented a memorandum to President of India through Governor of Karnataka Shri Hansaraj Bhardwaj. Nearly 2,000 people participated in the protest meeting organised under the banner of Jammu Kashmir Ulisi Horata Samiti, Bengaluru. The protests in Hubli, Mangalore and Bijapur were held on July 10. In Hubli, hundreds of activists came to the street protesting the intention of the Interlocutors. In Bijapur, the protesters shouted slogans against the Interlocutors and their report terming it ‘anti-national’. Shri Arvind Rao Deshpande, Prant Karyavah of Uttar Karnataka, was also present during the protest and handed over the memorandum to District Collector.
In Mangalore, the protest was organised on July 9. Hundreds of citizens gathered in front of the DC office, demanding rejection of the Interlocutors’ Report. Dr P Vaman Shenoy, Vibhag Sanghachalak of RSS, Shri Nalin Kumar, MP, Shri Suvrath Kumar of Citizens Council of Mangalore, Shri Sharan Pumpwell, Convenor of Bajrang Dal, Shri Ramesh, MUDA chief, Shri Sudhakar Joshi, etc also shared the dais.
Rajasthan
There are reports of organising strong protests in various parts of Rajasthan including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Sirohi, Jalaur, Nagaur, Barmer, etc. In Jaipur. the protest meeting was organised at Bari Chaupad on July 6. Addressing the meeting, BJP MP Tarun Vijay said the interlocutors only fueled the secessionist forces in Kashmir Valley. He demanded a clarion reply from the interlocutors and the UPA government about what has been done in the report, with over 500 memorandums submitted by Shia Muslims of Kargil, Buddhists of Leh-Ladakh, Dogra Hindus and Gujjar Muslims of the Valley who are well known for their commitment towards a united India. Rewasa Peethadhishwar Swami Raghwacharya and leaders of Muslim Manch also addressed the gathering. In Sirohi, Barmer, Mount Abu, Jalaur, Nagaur and Bikaner the protests were organised under the banner of Seema Jan Kalyan Samiti.
Madhya Pradesh
There are reports of organising massive protest in different parts of Madhya Pradesh. In Jabalpur, the dharna was organised by Jammu Kashmir Jan Jagran Manch on July 6 at Malaviya Chowk. Over 5,000 people joined the dharna. Dr Pawan, Shri Amar Singh Chouhan, Kumari Ashwani Paranjape, Shri Siddu Singh Rashik, Smt. Lavleen Anand, Shri Baldeep Singh Mainee, Dr Gopal Singhai, Shri Sangat Singh Batra, Smt. Nidhi Gupta, Shri Shankarlal Patel, Shri Jugrajdhar Dwivedi, Dr VK Raina and Shri Prashant Singh addressed the gathering. They said the report deserved to be thrown in the dustbin.
Gujarat
The protest meetings were organised in the state on July 7. The meeting organised in Ahmedabad was addressed by national co-convener of BJP’s Jammu-Kashmir Cell Shri Chandramohan Sharma. He said the Interlocutors’ Report expressed the anti-national mindset which must be crushed sternly. After the meeting, a memorandum was presented to Collector through a delegation comprising of RSS Gujarat Prant Karyakarini member Shri Amritbhai Kariwala, Prant Sah Prachar Pramukh Shri Shaileshbhai Patel, Prant Sewa Pramukh Shri Ashok Bhai Rawal and others.
Maharashtra
The protest meetings were organised in many parts of the state. There are reports of organising protests in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and others parts. The protest meeting in Pune was organised on 8 while in Nagpur the protest was organised on 6.
Punjab
The protests in Patiala was organised in front of the Central Library by Jammu-Kashmir Bachao Manch. Many social, religious and other organisations of the region joined the protest. The speakers termed the Interlocutors’ Report as an attempt to segregate Kashmir from India. There are also reports of organising similar protests in other parts of the state also.
(With inputs from VSK Chennai, Karnataka, Gujarat and Jaipur)
