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BJP: restore land, peace will follow in Jammu

Neena Vyas

“Even after 50 days of stir, Centre won’t say what it proposes to do”

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday said a peace formula on the Amarnath issue could be spelt out in just four words: Restore land, restore normalcy.

Party spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy questioned the motives of the Centre, which, he said, allowed the Jammu agitation to continue for more than 50 days. Even now the government refused to say what solution it had in mind and what it proposed to do, the BJP said.

The agitation is for restoration of forest land allotted to Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board.

Mangat Ram, family targeted by protesters

Staff Reporter writes from Jammu:

The former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, Mangat Ram Sharma, and his family on Thursday were the target of a mob agitating against the cancellation of the Amarnath land transfer order.

Mr. Sharma was on his way to the Kashmiri Pandit-dominated Bhagwati Nagar area here when the incident occurred.

“I had gone to meet a neurologist for treatment of my grandson. The protesters attacked the vehicle in which my son and his family were travelling. I was in another vehicle.” Mr. Sharma told The Hindu. Police managed to rescue them.

Mr. Sharma was Deputy Chief Minister under Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Health Minister under Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) convener Leela Karan Sharma has called for civil disobedience against the State government. It asked the people not to pay taxes collected by the government.

Ten people have died and more than 1,000, including a large number of police personnel, have been injured in the ongoing agitation, which entered the 52nd day on Thursday.

Economic losses are estimated to have crossed Rs.3500 crore.

The Samiti has constituted a group to hold talks with a four-member panel formed by the Governor to resolve the issue. But it has stuck to its stand that the agitation will continue till the land is restored to the Shrine Board.

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