STATE TIMES NEWS
BILLAWAR: Billawar Zila Andolan held a meeting at Billawar town wherein people from different villages of Billawar participated. The denial of district status for Billawar by the Coalition Govt. was strongly resented by the participants.
Speaking on the occasion, Convener of Billawar Zila Andolan Advocate Hari Chand Jalmeria flayed Coalition Govt. of pursuing discriminatory policy towards the genuine demand for creation of Billawar District.
Districts were created with small areas and lesser population in the Valley by Gulam Nabi led Govt. and three districts were created out of one Doda District without adopting any fair criteria. The new coalition of NC-Cong continued the same policy regarding creation of new districts. Present Kathua District is a large district about 250 kms in length and over 100/120 kms in breadth. People of Billawar, Basohli and Bani areas are worst sufferers as they have to travel long distance to reach district headquarter at Kathua which is located at the south east corner close to Punjab and Pakistan. Now after creation of new Tehsils, the Billawar, Basohli and Bani area has been readjusted into nine Tehsils. Billawar is centrally situated, therefore, new district headquarter would be better at Billawar. He called upon the Govt. to give up its discriminatory policy towards creation of Billawar District.
Chairing the meeting, BR Upadhiaya also addressed the gathering. The meeting decided to hold a massive rally at Billawar in early next year in support of the demand for creation of Billawar District.
Other prominent participants were: Bishan Dass Sharma, Master Raghunath Singh, Arvind Singh Jalmeria Advocate, Vinod Raeothia, Taramani Sharma, Khiali Ram, Amar nath, Krishan Lal, Tirath Ram and Gian Chand.
