BJP terms Aug 9 ''epoch-making day'' in Jammu's history

Jammu, Aug 10 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP today termed August 9 ''an epoch-making day'' in the political history of Jammu, saying it will always be remembered as the day of first major victory of the people of this province against the ''communal and fundamentalist'' forces out to destroy the social fabric of Indian polity.

''The BJP salutes the people of Jammu province. They have established that they can lead the nation aright, force the pseudo-secular Congress led UPA govt. at the centre to bow before them,'' BJP vice-president and spokesman Hari Om said, commenting on the recent developments in Delhi and Jammu concerning the ongoing agitation for restoration of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

Prof Hari Om said, ''the ouster of former Chief Ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Dr Farooq Abdullah, the JKPCC chief Prof Saif-ud-din Soz and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti from the meeting of the all-party delegation that visited Jammu for an on the spot assessment of the situation arising out of the ongoing mass agitation shows the unique strength of the people.'' ''The ouster of the Congress, PDP and NC leaders from the meeting is a clear signal that such communal leaders have no place whatsoever in the secular and tolerant Jammu and that they must refrain from vitiating the communal amity and remarkable unity by coming to Jammu,'' he said.

Prof Hari Om declared that the goal of the people of Jammu province would be achieved very soon because the authorities have been left with no other option but to restore the land to the SASB, recall the state Governor and restore the Shrine Board Act to its original position.

''The exemplary courage shown by the people of Jammu province and their enthusiastic and voluntary participation in the ongoing movement, which can be legitimately termed as the mother of all movements in the world, has in fact, infused new spirit in the country and generated an intense debate at the national level on whether the Indian state will continue to appease fanatics and those whose views are intolerant or Indian state shall become genuinely secular and democratic,'' said Prof. Hari Om.

The BJP leader also condemned the misleading propaganda of separatists and so called mainstream party leaders that nobody has been attacked during the ongoing yatra nor any Hindu been threatened.

''Yatris have been attacked at different places and more than 10 judicial officers and 25 students belonging to Jammu region have been forced out of Kashmir valley by the separatist elements including the Bar Association of Kashmir,'' the spokesman said.

Prof Hari Om appealed to the authorities to rein in the separatist elements who were spitting venom in open and on air (through TV channels).

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