'Politicians will not be allowed to take land issue's mileage'

Jammu, Jul 11 (UNI) Warning the vested interests, the Bar Association of Jammu today said politicians, who had indulged in ''flaring up'' the land transfer issue, will not be allowed to take political mileage in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections scheduled to be held in October.

''The issue of land transfer to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) does not belong to a particular community alone, but is a matter of concern for the entire Jammu region. It is related to sentiments and emotions symbolising the people of Jammu,'' B S Slathia, President, Bar Association of Jammu, said at a press conference here today.

Mr Slathia alleged that following Assembly elections, the political parties have started playing cards in the name of religion under the cover of Amarnath row, but the Bar Association would never permit such vested interests to politicise the issue for generating vote bank.

''Jammu region has always been discriminated since years as compared to Kashmir, but Amarnath land row has united the people for a cause and brought them under one roof to agitate against the Kashmir-centric leadership,'' he underlined.

''Despite being nationalists, not only economically and politically but by all means, people of Jammu have been neglected for decades. The battle is on and we will fight unless the land is not handed over to the Shrine Board,'' Mr Slathia asserted.

A committee of senior advocates under the supervision of Advocate S K Shukla has been formed to legally examine the recommendations made by the State Governor, which led to revocation of the land transfer order, the Bar Association President said, adding ''we want people from across the Jammu region to come forward and jointly announce agitation demanding the transfer of land to the Shrine Board that was revoked unconstitutionally and illegally.'' UNI VBH ATI DS1530