Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Oct 23: Prominentwriters, poets, research scholars,intellectuals, lawyers and officebearers of various literary and cul-tural organizations have decided tointensify the ongoing agitationagainst the blatant discriminationagainst Dogri language by deny-ing its legitimate representation inthe Central Committee, the apexbody of Jammu and Academy ofArt, Culture and Languages.

This was resolved at a meetingconvened by Dogri SansthaJammu (Regd) held at DogriBhawan Karan Nagar here where-in various decisions were takenunanimously to seek justice for thesecond largest speaking languageof the State and mother tongue ofDogras by the participating intel-lectuals.

Announcing the decisionsJoginder Pal Chhatrapa, presidentof Dogri Sanstha, said that the agi-tation would be reinforced in aphased manner. In first phase,Governor N N Vohra and CMMehbooba Mufti, Chief patronthe president of JKAACL, MPs,MLAs, MLCs and leaders of vari-ous political parties shall beapproached to highlight thedemand of due representation toDogri in the apex decision makingbody of JKAACL.

In the second phase, a sit-indemonstration shall be held by theintellectuals and writers of various

languages outside the office ofSecretary of the Akademy on thefirst day of reopening of CivilSecretariat at Jammu. In case ofcontinued non-cooperation by theauthorities of JKAACL to giverepresentation to Dogri in its apexbody, the writers affiliated toDogri Sanstha would start return-ing their awards given by JKAA-CL, he added.

Various speakers expressedtheir shock and resentment againstthe utter discrimination meted outto Dogri by JKAACL andunequivocally supported the agita-tion.

Dr Lalit Magotra, former pres-ident of Sanstha and Convener(Dogri) at Sahitya Akademi NewDelhi said that some vested ele-ments in JKAACL have been fol-

lowing the anti-Dogri agenda andmisguiding their president. Theyare creating confusion by empha-sizing that Dogri is given due rep-resentation in General Councilrather than accepting their mistakeof denying representation to Dogriin Central Committee. Generalcouncil is a non-existant body ofAkademy which has not held anymeeting in last three decades. It isa glaring example of blatant dis-crimination with Dogri that all themembers of Centralcommittee,barring one artist,belong to Kashmir, he added.

Assuring the full support ofBar Association and its variousbodies, the senior advocates ofJ&K High Court, Ashok VijayGupta and Hari Chand Jalmeriasaid that struggle is inevitable toseek justice for any cause of Dogriand Dogra community in the pres-ent dispensation.

Sangeet Natak Akademiawardee and noted theatre directorMushtak Kak, noted music direc-tor Brij Mohan,Prof ArchanaaKesar of DogriDepartment,Jammu University,Randhir Singh Raipuria politicaland social activist, GianeshwarSahitya Akademi awardee andvice president Dogri Sanstha,Sham Talib, founder PresidentAdabi Kunj, Sham Juneja ,Hindiwriter , Tarun Sharma, presidentNat Manch and Rajinder Ranjhaof Dogri Bhasha Academy alsospoke on the occasion.

DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016 (PAGE 3)

Dogri writers threaten agitation, return of awards

Senior lawyer, HC Jalmeria speaking during a function atDogri Sanstha in Jammu on Sunday.

Shangus deputation calls on CMExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Adeputa-tion from Shangus constituency ofdistrict Anantnag called on theChief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti ather residence here this morning andbrought to her notice their griev-ances, demands and developmentalissues of the concerned areas.

The deputation led by ViceChairman, Jammu & KashmirKhadi and Village Industries

Board, Peerzada Mansoor Hussainapprised the Chief Minister of theirindividual and collective problemsand grievances.

In their interaction with theChief Minister, the deputation pre-sented a memorandum of demandspertaining to healthcare, road con-nectivity and other issues of gener-al development in the area. For pro-vision of better healthcare facility inthe area they requested the ChiefMinister to consider upgradation of

PHC in Nowgam to adequatelycater to the local population andalso upgradation of AchabalHospital to SDH.

They also flagged issues con-cerning road connectivity particu-larly between Brakpora, Kanganhaland Chattergul and issue relating toforest clearance for a road stretch atSonach near Gujjar Basti. Theyalso demanded JK Bank branch atDehto.

The Chief Minister assured the

deputation that the issues flaggedby them would be taken up forredressal at the appropriate levels inthe Government.

She said the Government isalive to the public demands andnecessary measures are alreadyafoot to upgrade basic amenitiesand ensure prompt public servicedelivery. Mehbooba said wherevernecessary additional focus wouldbe concentrated to address the peo-ple's demands.

Dialogue only way forward, Govt committedto peace with dignity: Naeem

*Condemns burning of schoolsExcelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Oct 23: Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar hascondemned the burning of schools at various places in Kashmir duringthe last few days and stressed the need to tread the road of dialoguewhich is the only way forward.

The Minister said that the damage to schools is not just burning ofan institution but a colossal loss for the entire society. He said that dur-ing the last few months Kashmir has gone through a bad phase whichhas given pain to everybody.

"The biggest causality has been the loss of human lives which isirreparable. We cannot bring them back but we can save our future gen-eration," said Naeem. "We will never forget the people who died. Forthe good of all we have to proceed constructively and dialogue is theonly way forward," he added.

Akhtar said Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti too has repeatedlyreiterated the stand of the party and the Government regarding dialoguewith all shades of the political opinion in J&K to pull the State out ofthe morass. He said that during the current turmoil people have sufferedimmensely on every count and PDP came with the sole agenda thatsuch cycle of loss of life and property doesn't occur again and again.

"It was Mufti Sayeed's dream to take everybody along on the roadof peace, prosperity and development. He knew that the issue can beresolved only when entire country is taken along and that became thebasis of the formation of current Government," said Naeem.

"To achieve that long lasting peace everybody has to contribute andpeople from all schools of thoughts should come forwards for dialogue.Everybody has to make an effort," he added.

The Minister said that the dominant feature of the ruling alliance isdialogue, reconciliation apart from development. "The people ofKashmir have been the primary sufferers of the conflict for the last somany generations. We have suffered physically, intellectually, socially,economically and in every other front. It is high time that these tragictimes should end. Our party has been formed with the single aim of res-olution of issues," said Naeem.

Anti-blackmoney operations to be intensified

NEW DELHI, Oct 23:With both the one-time black money declaration windows con-

cluded, the Income Tax department is set to intensify its crackdownagainst stash holders after a recent case where an IDS participantsurrendered a fresh Rs 30 crore of unaccounted wealth to the tax-man after raids were conducted against him.

The case that recently took place in Kolkata has stunned author-ities of the IT investigations wing after the said business entity pro-duced, during searches, a bonafide receipt of declaring about Rs 3crore worth of black money under the Income Declaration Scheme(IDS) that ended on September 30.(PTI)

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti interacting with a deputation at Srinagar on Sunday.

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