BJP comes with statistics for more districts to Jammu

Jammu, July 15 (UNI) Accusing the Jammu and Kashmir government of adopting, partisan attitude against Jammu province vis a vis Kashmir the state unit of BJP has come out with statistics in support to press its demand for more districts in the province.

In a statement, issued here after the meeting of the state executive, state Vice-President and Spokesman Prof Hari sought to ''advise'' the Chief Minister to verify facts before criticising the party, which according to him is simply demanding justice for Jammu and asking him to follow the criteri on he followed while creating four districts and nine new tehsils in the ''very small'' Kashmir valley.

He said the BJP is not crossing the line by demanding a fair treatment to the province. It is only performing the role of a responsible opposition party.

The demand of the BJP, as also of the people inhabiting different parts of Jammu province for more districts and more tehsils, he said, is both well-founded and rational.

Prof. Hari Om reiterated the charge that the Congress- led coalition government has not treated Jammu province fairly and said this can be seen from the following few examples : Srinagar district which has a land area of 2,228 sq. km and which consists of a paltry 168 villages, has been divided into two districts ,Srinagar and Gandarbal. Contrary to this Jammu district ,which has a land area of 3097 Sq km and which consist of 1054 villages ,has been left high and dry.

Similarly, Pulwama district which has 1,398 sq. km land area and consists of 536 villages, has been divided into two districts Pulwama and Shopian. Contrary to this ,Kathua district in Jammu region, which has a land area of 2,651 sq.km and consists of 555 cvillages, has been left untouched.

Talking about Budgam District in the valley, which has a land area 1,371. km and consists of 475 villages, has been divided into two districts ,Budgam and Khansahib. As against this, Rajouri district in Jammu region has a land area of 2,630 sq. km and consists of as many as 415 villages, has not been touched.

Prof Hari Om said these are only three of the several such instances which clearly vindicate the charge of the BJP that the Congress has treated Jammu province as a Kashmir colony and that both he and his party have little or no reagrd for the sentiments of the people of Jammu priovince, which has been crying for justice ever since 1947.

The BJP leader asked the Chief Minister to undo the injustice done to Jammu and create atleast five more districts and nine tehsils on the pattern of the Kashmir valley.

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