Jammu continues its struggle for land allotment: Samiti

Mumbai, Aug 18 (UNI) The people of Jammu will continue their, agitation till the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti is given back the 100 acres of land that was allotted to them by the state government, Rajendra Mishra of the Samiti, said here today.

Addressing mediapersons, Mr Mishra, professor of the Jammu University said the decision to hand over the land to the 'Shrine Board' was taken in the Cabinet and should be handed over to them.

''The people of Jammu have been suppressed by the government and others since Independence, but will not take things lying down anymore and will fight for the land, even if it takes five years,'' Mr Mishra said.

The 100 acres of land was allotted to the shrine board, on which temporary shelters will be built for the pilgrims and the board will pay a rent of Rs 12 crores to the Jammu and Kashmir, government every year during the yatra period.

Mr Mishra said the people of Jammu, including children and women protested for the last 50 days and the shops, banks and even the ATM's remained closed in the state, thereby increasing the miseries of the people.

''The land was given to the Board in May 2008 and the separatists made statements that the land will be used for building Hindu colonies and an Israeli kind of a situation will arise, which triggered the problem,'' Mr Mishra said.

''Moreover, national conference patron Farooq Abdullah made a statement on June 19, that the decision will be revoked once he comes to power, further triggering the clashes,'' Mr Mishra added.

After the statements, the PDP withdrew support to the government and the government fell, leading to unrest in the state.

The media has been blacked out in Jammu and the sms services of mobile companies has been barred by the operators for fear of spreading unrest among the people.

UNI JN SR LPB BST1848