STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Dogri writers have unanimously decided to stage protest against the non-inclusion of any Dogri writers in the newly constituted Central Committee of the Academy.
In the meeting held here on Tuesday, Dogri writers, writers of other languages, prominent members of civil society and representatives of various social and cultural organizations have unanimously resolved that a sit in Dharna would be staged on 5th December outside the office of the Secretary, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages to register protest against the non-inclusion of any Dogri writer in the newly constituted Central Committee of the Academy.
Chhatrapal, President of Dogri Sanstha and a noted Dogri writer complained that in the recently reconstituted Central Committee, all members are from Kashmir division except one and none even one member is Dogri speaking or Dogri knowing . No Dogri writer has been included in the Central Committee in spite of the fact that Dogri is the second largest language of the State and is included in the Eighth Schedule of Indian Constitution, he said, adding that this speaks of the sheer discrimination meted out to the Dogri speaking people of Jammu region.
Prof Lalit Magotra, convener Dogri Advisory Board in Sahitya Akademi mentioned that the Dogri writers had earlier planned to stage dharna on 7th Nov 2016 but it was put on hold on the assurance of Dy Chief Minister that the grievances of Dogri writers and Dogras will be addressed very soon and urged the agitating writers to allow some time to the Government to resolve the matter. But in spite of a long wait no corrective measure has been taken as promised.
Others who spoke on the occasion include H. Jalmeria, Dr Ashok Khajuria, Dr Shashi Pathania, Randhir Singh Raipuria and Dr. Veena Gupta.
It was also resolved in the meeting that henceforth the writers would boycott all functions of the Academy.
Dogri Sanstha appealed to all the social, religious, cultural and political organisations to support this common cause, which is a related to the identity of all Dogras and Dogri loving populace and defeat the nefarious designs of those who conspire to denigrate this language and create a wedge between Jammu region and Kashmir Valley.