Early Times Report Jammu, Aug 21: J&K Citizen Advisory Forum, a Jammu based civil society group, has appealed for peace and restoration of normalcy in Kashmir and sought strong action against separatists who are inciting Kashmiri youth to indulge in anti-India violence. In its first public interaction at Gandhi Nagar here, a well-attended meeting adopted a resolution and asked the separatists to "mend their ways and desist from anti-India tirade" and " spitting venom against the nationalist forces." Expressing concern over Kashmir situation which is affecting Jammu people as well, the Forum "urged State and Central Governments to deal sternly with anti-India elements". It strongly criticized the State Govt for dropping the proposal under the pressure of separatists of setting up separate colonies for migrant Kashmiri Pandits and demanded that Kashmiri Pandits be resettled in protected areas in Kashmir. The meeting .was held to discuss "Kashmir unrest and it's reflection on Jammu". The Former Judge of JK High Court, Justice KK Gupta, Patron-in-Chief of the Forum presided over the meeting. The Chairman of the Forum I C Jandial, former Chief Engineer, introduced the subject and said that Jammu is feeling the heat of Kashmir unrest and cannot remain as mute spectator to alarming situation emerging in Kashmir. "Its the duty of the intelligentsia to ponder over the situation and contribute to restore normalcy in Kashmir and strengthen the nationalistic forces," he added. Jandial said that a group of prominent citizens and the intelligentsia of the JK have joined hands, in creating a Citizen Advisory Forum to achieve a holistic version of development with constructive and collaborative engagements of the civil society. The forum, he said, would be inviting professionals from various other sectors and capacities. Jandial said the JKCAF would hold more interactive meetings at other places to create awareness bf important issues concerning the state. "It would be playing a non-political civil society role in the State," he added. Earlier, K B Jandial, former Member J&K PSC and Raman Mattoo, former Minister delivered lecture on "Kashmir unrest and it's reflection on Jammu". They touched different aspects of the unrest, forces responsible for such periodical cycle of violence, historic events and willful mischievous interpretation given to certain documents including Instrument of Accession and Article 370 to turn the youth against India. Other speakers, who spoke on the occasion, raised their concern for discrimination with Jammu in almost every field and sought urgent correction in government policies. Those spoke on the occasion included CP Gupta, noted businessman, Jugal Mahajan, noted businessman and activist, Kiran Wattal, Former Municipal Commissioner JMC, S. Peter, Dr. C L Gupta, noted Urologist, Vinod Sharma, a retired engineer and SP Langer. A galaxy of prominent citizens and office bearers of the Forum participated in the interaction. They included Arvind Mahajan, Vice -Chairman & noted businessman, Munish Gupta (Editor Early Times), P. K. Gupta, IPS (Retd) former IGP, K KBhakhri, Treasurer & retired officer, Advocate Rattan Lai Gupta, former Legislator, Vinod Luthra, former Chief Engineer, Hira Lai Abrol, businessman, Bharat Bhushan, K L Gupta, former Chief Engineer,Journalist,L K Merigi, former Chief Engineer, Hari Singh Chib, educationist," Dr. Langer, D P Khajuria, Vinod Gupta, President Central Mahajan Sabha, Dr. Subash Gupta, fqrmcr Principal GMC, Jammu, N K Gupta, Ravi Rohmetra, Suresh Sharma, P C Gupta, Verma Secretary, Sarafa Association and C U Sharma, Secretary Gandhi Nagar Welfare Association. |