Why it took 70 years for Rahul Gandhi’s party to hoist Tiranga at Lal Chowk: Chugh

BJP pays glowing tributes to Praja Parishad martyrs

STATE TIMES NEWS

AKHNOOR: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by its National General Secretary & Prabhari J&K Tarun Chugh paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of 1953 Praja Parishad agitation at Jourian.
Tarun Chugh was accompanied by former Dy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, J&K BJP Vice-President Sham Lal Sharma, BJP senior leader Devender Singh Rana, senior leader Daljit Singh Chib and other party leaders in presence of representatives of social organizations and prominent locals.

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While paying tributes to martyrs, Tarun Chugh said that the struggle to abrogate Articles 370 and 35A continued for 70 years.
He said that Jammu and Kashmir has a long history of struggle and movement.
“The pages of history are full of renunciation, austerity and sacrifice. When Sheikh Abdullah implemented the permit system to enter Jammu and Kashmir, the Praja Parishad raised the slogan, Desh Mein Do Pradhan, Do Vidhan, Do Nishan: Nahi Chalenge, Nahi Chalenge,” Chigh said.
“On 11 January 1953, two days before the festival of Lohri, the police opened fire on a procession in which more than 5,000 people were participating. More than 200 rounds were fired in which two people were martyred and more than 70 injured. On 31 January 1953, a huge crowd of protesting farmers gathered in Jyodia village. The farmers came out in huge numbers towards Jammu carrying the tricolor in their hands. The police opened fire on the agitators, in which 7 people were martyred, to salute whose sacrifice and spirit we all have gathered here”, said Tarun Chugh.
Chugh added: “We must never forget the sacrifices of these martyrs that transformed the Praja Parishad agitation into a massive movement that ultimately led to achieving the goal– finally with abrogation of Article 370 after which the J&K has been witnessing unprecedented development on all fronts”.
Tarun also questioned Rahul Gandhi for his party’s delay of 70 long years in hoisting Tiranga at Lal Chowk. He said that he should be thankful to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led BJP government that he could enter J&K without permit and hoist Tiranga at Lal Chowk without any issue.
Dr Nirmal Singh said during the agitation, the people registered their protest against the separate Constitution, separate flag, separate ‘Sadar-e-Riyasat’ and the Permit System and the mission got accomplished with the Indian Constitution and the Indian Tricolor fully extended to J&K during the BJP Govt’s tenure.
Sham Lal Sharma said that while the country became independent in 1947 but citizens of our state did not enjoy the same freedom like other states.
“Today we feel pride on living in a democratic setup, credit for which goes to these martyrs”, he added.
Devender Singh Rana said that the sacrifices of these martyrs would be remembered forever. He also appealed to the masses to pass on the history of these heroes to the future generations to imbibe the spirit of patriotism among them.