Two-hour nationwide 'chakka jam' to support Amarnath agitation: VHP

New Delhi, Aug 12 (UNI) Threatening to give a call for 'Amarnath Chalo' agitation if the cancelled land allotment to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was not restored, the VHP today said a two-hour nation-wide 'chakka jam' would be organised tomorrow to express solidarity with the people in Jammu.

The peaceful and democratic 'chakka jam', between 0900-1100 hrs tomorrow, all over the country would be to alert the government on the issue, VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia told the media adding if this fails, a ''more vigourous and animated phase'' would follow.

''We could also give a call for 'Amarnath Chalo' if the government fails to listen to democratic gestures we have been resorting to till now,'' he said.

Stressing that the 'jam' would be peaceful, and focussed at 22 places in Delhi, Mr Togadia said all essential services and school going children would be exempted from it.

''The next step of agitation would be decided after August 15,'' he said.

Lambasting the government for its Muslim appeasement policy in dealing with the issue which had been lingering on for the last 42 days, the VHP leader said while relatives of Kuldeep (killed in police firing) were deprived of even attending his last rites, at the funeral of Hurriyat's Aziz (killed in police firing yesterday) thousands were allowed to gather despite curfew.

''The government on one hand wants to appease those who raise pro-Pakistan slogans and on the other was persecuting Hindus in Jammu, who were making justified demands,'' he said adding that it was playing into the hands of the 'jehadis' who were provoking anti-India sentiments in the valley.

Head of Sri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti Ramakant Dubey told the media that on August 16 they would launch the 'jail bharo' andolan to press for their demand of restoration of the 100 acres of land to the SASB alloted to it earlier.

''The agitation in Jammu was not being undertaken by any political party but by the 'aam janta' comprising of people with age group between 05-85 years,'' he said.

While we are suffering and the business there was also suffering, fruit growers in Kashmir were blackmailing the government over their produce which was atrocitious, he said and added that the government must not succumb to such threats and give secessionist elements an upper hand.

UNI AN SK NS1945