District status demand gains momentum

STATE TIMES NEWS
NOWSHERA: A complete Bandh was observed in Nowshera town and adjoining rural hamlets for 15th day on the demand of district status. All Govt offices, banks, schools and other establishments remained closed. People assembled at Patel Chowk Nowshera in support of their demand of district status for Nowshera and raised slogans against government for its causal approach towards their genuine demand. Kanwar Singh Choudhary, President Jat Sabha Jammu addressed protestors and extended his support to the protest. Thereafter they took out a procession towards Tehsil/SDM Office Complex Nowshera.

While in Sunderbani, protestors led by Ashwini Kumar Sharma, President Beopar Mandal Sunderbani blocked Jammu Poonch Highway at Main Chowk, Sunderbani. There was resentment on a media report that DC Rajouri has submitted a report to Govt favouring sanctioning of ADC post to Nowshera and enhancing powers of SDM Sunderbani and Kalakote. The protestors burnt effigy and raised slogans against Govt, MLA Nowshera Ravinder Raina and MLC Surinder Choudhary. Thereafter on the intervention of Tehsildar and SHO Sunderbani they lifted the blockade of Jammu Poonch Highway. Later they had a meeting at Radha Krishna Temple for next course of action.
While over Distt status for Kalakote, residents gave three days Bandh call. A delegation of Beopar Mandal Kalakot met Tehsildar and submitted a memorandum to him, mentioning therein that because of the failure of Govt in sanctioning district status for Kalakot, a complete Bandh shall be observed for three days, from March 3 to 5. Meanwhile, Former MLC and Senior Congress leader Ravinder Sharma blamed the Govt. of testing the patience of people agitating over the demand for creation of posts of ADCs in Nowshera, Sunderbani and Kalakote and sanction of district status comprising of three sub-divisions.
Reacting to the prolonged stalemate and continued agitation in three sub-divisions, PCC leader blamed the Govt. for creating this situation by peace – meal announcements on selective and pick and choose basis for creating ADCs in Kateranka, Basohli, Billawar and some other areas.
Pleading for grant of ADC status to all three sub-divisions on the pattern of Basohli and Billawar where the distance is 30 Kms. only, whereas the inter-se distance between each sub-division HQ of Sunderbani, Nowshera and Kalakote is around 40 Kms. or above, to help resolve the issue. Sharma demanded creation of a district based on the vast area of three sub-divisions of Nowshera-Sunderbani and Kalakote at the earliest taking into account the aspirations and earlier commitments to the people over their long pending demand. He appealed to the people especially the senior and genuine leadership of these areas to resolve the issue amicably in order to facilitate the administration and Govt. to take a realistic decision in this regard.