Shifting Jammu art treasure to Kashmir is attempt to erase Dogra culture, identity: Young Panthers

 STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Admonishing the State Government for shifting priceless art treasure of Jammu Pradesh to Kashmir, Young Panthers dubbed the obnoxious move as a dangerous bid to erase Dogra culture, history and identity.
While taking a dig at J and K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) for reportedly taking the decision to relocate the Dogra art works from the galleries of Kala Kendra Jammu to Kashmir, Gagan Pratap Singh, Spokesman and General Secretary Young Panthers, expressed his indignation over the BJP for remaining a mute spectator during an attempt made by its Kashmiri compeers to demolish the centuries old pristine Dogra heritage.
He told reporters that according to the sources, the inventory of marvelous art collections which was being shifted from Kala Kendra to the strong rooms of JKAACL at Lal Mandi Srinagar comprised 300 paintings (including Basohli paintings), 91 miniatures, 34 artifacts, 80 sculptures and an anthology of rare photographs.
While smelling a well hatched conspiracy by both the State Government and the JKAACL to wipe out existence of the Duggar identity, Singh wondered that how could State Government issue orders to shift the art treasure to Kashmir on the pretext of inadequate space and hostile weather conditions when there were numerous ways to preserve ancient art and craft in the modern world.
He maintained that the priceless collections of art from Jammu were being shifted to JKAACL at Lal Mandi Srinagar with an objective to decorate the venue which had been adversely affected by the floods of Sept 2014 at the cost of Dogra pride and honour.
Gagan Pratap said that this nefarious move could be gauged as BJP-PDP Government’s invasion against the Dogra treasure in Jammu just like Mughal invaded India and looted her treasure of art and literature.
He appealed to all the sects of society of Jammu region to unite and take up all legal, constitutional, democratic means and methods to save treasures of their art, literature and history.
He said that it was high time that the people should oppose, expose and depose the BJP for its persistent acts of deceit, duplicity and betrayal.
Others who accompanied Singh during the press conference include Purshottam Parihar, Ravinder Jamwal and Anil Rakwal.