It's Independence Day but the People of Jammu are Hostage

Pilgrims in procession to Holy cave temple of Amarnath

Today India celebrated her 62^nd Independence Day but the people of Jammu spent the day under the oppression of Kashmiri separatists.  Making 47 days long agitation and 24th day of indefinite bandh for taking back the land of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) more patriotic, the usual slogan of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ raised on the Independence Day was today clubbed by the people with ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ and ‘Khoon Bhi Denge Jaan Bhi Denge, Bhole Ki Zameen Waapis Lenge’ as agitationists turned emotional on the occasion of the I-Day hoisting tricolor in every nook and corner of Jammu region in parallel gatherings organized to ensure total boycott of the official functions.

Authorities too lifted day curfew in both Jammu and Samba districts and Udhampur town to facilitate the people celebrating the I-Day. The protesters took out rallies after unfurling tricolors in every Chowk of the region with strength in the rallies increasing with every passing day. Crowd in the rallies organized by the people, majority of whom boycotted official Independence Day functions in response to Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti (SAYSS) call, showed that virtually entire Jammu had come on the roads in support of the agitation.

The Government of India is lying when they say our country is independent and free and that she has been this way for 62 years.  The reality is that India in independent on her face only.  Her streets and towns and cities tell another story.  Authorities undermined the lift in day curfew by filling the streets with police and beating countless people who turned out to celebrate Independence Day. 

I am deeply concerned about the suicide of Balwant Raj Sharma.  This senior citizen of Jammu committed suicide yesterday by swallowing poison at the site of a chain hunger strike in Hiranagar in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district called against the state government’s cancellation of land transfer to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.  Balwant Raj Sharma, 58, drank poison at his home in Hiranagar town and died on the way to the Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu.

Sharma, a retired ayurvedic doctor and member of Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, the association convened by Leela Karan Sharma spearheading the agitation on shrine land, arrived at the strike venue in the afternoon after swallowing poison.  He collapsed amid heavy sloganeering and was moved to the Kathua district hospital where his stomach was washed. When his condition grew serious, doctors referred him to G M C Hospital but he died during his journey there.  Sharma left a suicide note donating his property to the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti. I ask that Bhagawan Lord Shiva have mercy on his soul and I offer my condolences to his family, friends, and community.

I am surprised that the Prime Minister of India has remained unresponsive.  I question how many suicides it will take for him to address the problem. I thought the Prime Minister was a seasoned politician but his decisions are proving otherwise.  He is behaving like a novice who is in over his head and does not want to face reality.  In 47 days of agitation India’s Prime Minister has failed to offer one single solution to the situation. 

We cannot continue waiting for the Prime Minister.  We have waited long enough.  The people must now remove his government from power.  They are a fussy and incompetent bunch who are better suited reading books on politics than practicing politics.  

 

Kalik Ji Maharaj

International President – Shri Ram Sena

Former President – Shiv Sena J&K State

Email: kalikji@shriramsena.com