BJP protests against Omar govt, 70 cadres court arrest

Over 400 BJP workers took out a protest march over the failure of the Omar Abdullah government on security and development.

Jammu and Kashmir government offices reopened today after 'Darbar move' to Jammu, the winter capital of the state, amid protest rallies by opposition BJP and other organisations.

Over 400 BJP workers, led by BJP state president and MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma, took out a protest march from Indira Chowk over the failure of the Omar Abdullah government on all fronts including security and development.

The BJP activists clashed with police when they were stopped from marching towards the Civil Secretariat.

Nearly 70 BJP activists and MLAs courted arrest.

Sharma criticised the NC-Congress government, alleging discrimination against Jammu and Ladakh regions in matters related to development and extension of welfare schemes.

He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is raking up the settled issue of accession of the state for political gain.

Meanwhile, over 200 activists of PoK Refugee Front 1947, 1965, 1971 took out a protest march from Mubarak Mandi area to press their demands. They clashed with police after being prevented from entering the secretariat.

General secretary of the front Rachhpal Singh Chib said, "We have been demanding rehabilitation package for the community displaced from PoK over past several years, but the Omar government has failed on it."

"The biased and apathetic attitude of the NC-led government has inflicted untold atrocities on the on the displaced families from Chhamb, Deva, Watala, Manawar, Nah, Kotli, Palandri Poonch and Muzafarabad," Rachhpal said.

The front also demanded registration of unregistered families of 1947 Indo-Pak War immediately.

In another protest rally, Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation employees, who had taken VRS, demanded that their remaining arrears be granted soon. They marched from the Jammu Press Club to the Civil Secretariat and clashed with police after being stopped.

On the opening of Civil Secretariat here today on Annual Darbar Move, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was accorded rousing welcome by the Council of Ministers, top civil and police officials and other government functionaries.

He was also given a Guard of Honour by the Jammu and Kashmir Police contingent.