Civil society groups call for bandh on April 11

Tribune News Service

Jammu, April 7

Various civil society groups on Saturday unanimously proposed to observe a complete shutdown and ‘chakka jam’ on April 11 in support of their demands.

The three major demands of the organisations included withdrawal of the directions given at a meeting of the state Tribal Affairs Department, fair and independent CBI probe into the Rasana murder case and deportation of illegal immigrants, including Rohingya and Bangladeshi, from the Jammu region.

During a meeting at the J&K High Court Bar office, representatives of the groups held threadbare discussions and vowed to continue the agitation under the leadership of BS Slathia, Jammu J&K High Court Bar Association, chief, till their demands were accepted.

The members of Bar rejected the appeal made by the BJP to call off their strike. They also took a dig at the conspicuous silence of the BJP on the “injustice and discrimination” being done by the coalition government to Jammu people.

They said the circumstances being created and supported by Kashmir-centric politicians was a threat to the social fabric, brotherhood and harmony of society.

They accused the government of encouraging land grabbers by issuing “communal directions” in favour of a particular community to create a wedge between communities in Jammu.

In his address, Slathia assured the civil society groups that their proposal would be placed before the general house on April 9 for approval.

He also announced that work in all courts, tribunals, revenue courts and commissions would remain suspended on April 9.