JAMMU: Saffron stronghold of Jammu on Wednesday stood up in arms against NDA Government at the Centre and PDP-BJP Government in Jammu and Kashmir in protest against the reported shifting of AIIMS from Jammu to the Kashmir Valley.
Life came to standstill with business establishments closed, traffic off the roads leading to thin attendance in government offices and deserted capital city greeting Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on his visit to address ‘Jan Kalyan Parv’ to commemorate the one year of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government at the Centre.
An apolitical amalgam of over 91 socio-religious and politico-commercial organisations, AIIMS Coordination Committee had called for the shut down which synchronized or had been planned with the visit of Home Minister. The Bandh was a huge success and snub to BJP, as its strong base of trading community took a lead role in registering protest over discrimination against Jammu.
Elated over the peaceful and total shutdown, first such public-sponsored event after the unprecedented 2008 Amarnath land row agitation, Abhinav Sharma, President High Court Bar Association, Jammu, said “We want to send a message to the Union government that any injustice with the people of Jammu or the Jammu region cannot be tolerated… be it the issue of shifting of AIIMS from Jammu to Kashmir or the shelving of the artificial lake project, people in Jammu will protest the injustice”. The Coordination Committee has has threatened to intensify the stir if AIIMS is not sanctioned for Jammu.
Due to shut down and lack of enthusiasm among people over the visit of Rajnath Singh, the Jan Kalyan Parv turned a low key affair.
Except for sloganeering against during the Home Minister by Coordination Committee activists and the workers of Panthers Party at several places, especially in the Dogra Chowk, the Bandh passed off peacefully.
Reports of Bandh are trickling in from other parts of the Jammu region. The traffic on various district routes remained affected.
While educational institutions remained closed, attendance in the government offices, banks and post offices was also affected due to non-availability of transport. The people were seen walking through the roads in absence of public transport.
Adequate security bandobust had been put in place to maintain law and order especially in view of the high profile VVIP visit. Senior police officers were seen making rounds of the city.
Jammu University had announced postponement of all exams scheduled for the day.
The Coordination Committee led by the BAJ President besides President Chamber of Commerce Rakesh Gupta, Chairman Transport Association T. S Wazir, President Tankers Association Annan Sharma, President Federation of Retailer Association Yash Pal Gupta and other associations expressed their gratitude to the people of Jammu Province in general and traders, transporters, business organizations and other stakeholders in particular for registering Jammu’s strong protest against the perpetual discrimination with the region.
STATE TIMES correspondents add that Bar and various social associations in Samba, Akhnoor, Kathua, Udhampur, Surankote, Reasi, Katra Rajouri, Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar also extended their support to the Bandh.
Earlier, a procession comprising various associations was taken out from the High Court Complex, which passed through the city and culminated at the venue where the Home Minister was to speak to BJP workers.
The Chairman Coordination Committee has meanwhile appreciated the cooperation extended by All J&K Transport Welfare Association, Federation of Retailer Association, J&K Petroleum Dealer Association, All J&K Hotels and Lodges Association, Press Club Jammu, Jammu Province People Forum, Rajput Sabha Jammu, All J&K Guru Ravi Dass Sabha, All J&K Kabir Sabha, Dalit Chetana Manch, Bari Brahamana Industrialist Association, Vishaw Karma Sabha, Bar Association Samba, Bar Association Kathua, Bar Association Udhampur, Bar Association Reasi, Bar Association Rajouri, Bar Association Poonch, Bar Association Kishtwar, Bar Association Ramban, Bar Association Doda, Bar Association Bhaderwah, Bar Association Billawar (Kathua), Bar Association Banihal, Tax Bar Association, Raghunath Bazaar Businessmen Association Jammu, Traders Federation Ware House Nehru Market Jammu, Mini Bus Association, Kanak Mandi Businessmen Association, Taxi operators Federation, Motor Parts Dealers Association, Lower Raghunath Bazaar Businessmen Association, Lower Hari Market Businessmen Association, Hari Market Businessmen Association, Dogra Liberation Front, Gumat Bazaar Traders Association, Raj Tilak Road Traders Association, Association of Electrical Dealers, Jammu, Purani Mandi Businessmen Association, Dayanand Marg Traders Association, Link Road Traders Association, Brahaman Sabha Jammu, Jammu Central Mahajan Sabha, Nagrota Shop Association, Central Basic School Marg Businessmen Association Purani Mandi, Traders Welfare Association General Bus Stand Jammu, Traders Welfare Association General Bus Stand Jammu, Tour & Travels Association Jammu, Gandhi Plaza Merchant Association, Gole Market Gandhi Nagar Jammu, J&K Hotel Employees Association Jammu, All Private School Association, Arrorabans Sabha, J&K State Integrations Public Relations Society, Young Blood Association, Jaat Kalyan Sabha and others