No holiday: Youth heckle Dy CM at Hari Singh’s birth celebrations

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 23

Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh was heckled by youth of Jammu on Saturday over the state government’s “failure” to declare a holiday on the birth anniversary of the last Dogra ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh. As they raised anti-BJP slogans, he was forced to leave the venue where people were celebrating the birth anniversary of Hari Singh.

When the Deputy Chief Minister was addressing the gathering, he was interrupted by some youth who were annoyed over the attitude of BJP ministers on this issue. Nirmal Singh tried to pacify the youth but to no avail. Considering the anger of the youth, the police escorted the Deputy Chief Minister to safety. The youth warned the government of intensifying their stir on this issue by organising similar protests against BJP ministers, whom they called “Jai Chands” of Jammu.

“This is just a beginning. We will not allow these Jai Chands to come out of their homes because they have betrayed the people of Jammu,” warned Team Jammu chairman Zorawar Singh Jamwal while addressing youth in front of the Maharaja’s statue on the Tawi Bridge. “For the last 70 years, the BJP and its affiliated organisations have exploited the sentiments of Jammu residents. After coming to power, these groups have started bartering peoples’ aspirations for self-interests,” he said. Meanwhile, scores of functions were held across the Jammu region to mark the birth anniversary of Hari Singh.

NC, Cong politicising issue: BJP

Jammu: After Deputy CM Nirmal Singh was heckled by angry youth, the BJP on Saturday evening lambasted the Congress and the National Conference for politicising Maharaja Hari Singh’s birth anniversary issue. The BJP questioned both parties for failing to declare September 23 a public holiday when they were in power since 1947. “The Congress and the NC ruled the state till 2014 but these parties never ever commemorated the birth anniversary,” said BJP state general secretary Narinder Singh. “In fact, the NC under Sheikh Abdullah and the Congress under Jawahar Lal Nehru had conspired to keep the Maharaja out of J&K after the accession of the state with India. It was the BJP that got the resolution moved and passed in the Upper House for the declaration of holiday on Maharaja’s birth anniversary.” TNS