MADAN MANTOO
JAMMU: Coming, as it is, at a time when BJP is poised for first reality check in the upcoming polls to local bodies, the Bar Association Jammu (BAJ) led Coordination Committee (CC), an amalgam of 71 social, religious and political constituents, has come out with a calendar that is seen as direct confrontation with junior partner in Mufti Sayed led ruling coalition in its stronghold of Jammu. The BJP had swept Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly polls in the Jammu region in 2014 by making best of Narendra Modi wave.
The Coordination Committee has called for Jammu Bandh in protest against ‘shifting’ of All India Institute of Medical Sciences from Jammu to Srinagar on 27th May which synchronises with the visit of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to the winter capital. Singh is arriving to address ‘Jan Kalyan Parv’ (Public Welfare Festival) as part of the celebrations to commemorate one year in office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance Government at the Centre.
Sources told STATE TIMES that the representatives of various organisations were of the view that whenever any top central BJP leader may plan to visit Jammu, the Coordination Committee should call for Bandh to register protest over constant neglect of the region and total ‘indifference ‘ of the current dispensation towards Jammu in a bid to placate the Kashmir Valley.
Headed by BAJ President Abhinav Sharma, the Coordination Committee demonstrated unanimity in holding the Bandh and seeking a clarification from all the 26 BJP MLAs from the region within ten days to spell out their stand on the issue of AIIMS for Jammu. The CC has also served an ultimatum to the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Government to sanction and announce AIIMS for Jammu within ten days, lest the movement will be taken to its logical conclusion.
Sources revealed that tempers raged high over alleged discrimination with the Jammu region and the representatives viewed with concern suo-motto decision taken by Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed in ‘abandoning’ the prestigious Tawi Artificial Lake Project on which nearly Rs 60 crore have already been spent. According to the sources, the face saver by a senior BJP minister over carrying out the work on the lake project has not gone well with most of the representatives, who accused BJP of succumbing to pressure.
With open support of Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries and other trade organisations, the CC is confident about unprecedented success of the proposed Bandh on Wednesday next. Jammu has a tradition of not abiding to the calls of political parties without tacit understanding of the trade organisations, which is why all the major political parties like Congress, National Conference and Panthers had synchronised their call for Bandh against shifting of AIIMS to Kashmir on 24th April. The successful Bandh had left the BJP jittery as it was for the first time in the past nearly six decades when Jammu had ‘revolted’ against the saffron outfit in its stronghold.
The overall resentment of the people of Jammu has left BJP divided with majority of hard-core workers including some prominent leaders, legislators, senior functionaries of RSS and its students wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidharthi Parishad openly questioning the sagacity in lying too low.
Sources told STATE TIMES that concerned BJP functionaries were apprehending the resentment to shape as 2008 like resistance, which will cost the party dearly. “The immediate fall out will on the upcoming elections to civic bodies”, a BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, according to JNF, the CC at its meeting in the High Court Complex has added Y. V Sharma former President Chamber of Commerce, K. B Jandial (Retd.) former IAS officer, Vijay Gupta, President Kanak Mandi Traders Association, Raj Kumar Babbar, State President Swarn Kar Sangh, Ashu Gupta Chairman, Apsra Road Traders Association, Amrik Singh President Tourism Federation of Jammu, Vijender Khajuria, Chairman J and K Panchayat Rural and Urban Council, Davinder Choudhary President Taxi Union and Kulbhushan Anand City President of Swarn Kar Sangh into its fold.
The CC also discussed issues pertaining to various other organisations like the Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Traders and Transporters.
The meeting also unanimously decided that the President of the JKHCBA shall be the Chairman of the “Coordination Committee” and the chief official spokesperson. President of Chamber of Commerce Rakesh Gupta and A.P Singh, General Secretary of JKHCBA have been appointed the other two spokespersons.
