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Thursday, Jul 17, 2008
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Bandh hits life in Jammu

Staff Reporter

“Protests will continue till the land is restored to Shrine Board”

— Photo: PTI

Protesters seen through the broken windows of a government bus during the bandh in Jammu on Wednesday.

Jammu: A shutdown call given in support of the demand for removal of Governor N.N. Vohra and restoration of the cancelled land transfer to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) affected life here on Wednesday.

The bandh call was given by the Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti and supported by the BJP, Shiv Sena, VHP, Jammu Joint Students Federation, Kranti Dal, Bajrang Dal, All Party Migrant Coordination Committee and Panun Kashmir and the Jammu and Kashmir Vichar Manch.

There were protest demonstrations in various parts of the region and many private and public vehicles were.

Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti chairman Leela Karan said, “Our protest is against the Governor’s order to cancel the earlier land diversion order to the Shrine Board. The protest will continue till the land is restored to the Shrine Board.

The Jammu Bar Association, which supported the agitation, has asked the Samiti not to politicise the issue.

It also urged the political parties not to make it an issue in the Assembly elections. Its president B.S. Slathia said, “The issue should be seen from a broader perspective and understand why people of Jammu have protested in an unprecedented manner.”

According to the Bar, the Governor, who is the Shrine Board chairman, was not competent to cancel the order.

For, according to Section 12 of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Act, a minimum of five members had to be present.

Mr. Vohra has stated that the Shrine Board would continue to perform its statutory role with zeal and dedication. He added that the facilities would be improved under the aegis of the board in the years to come. According to the Governor, the Board came into being by an Act of the State Legislature and there cannot be any dilution of the assigned role of the board.

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