BJP reiterates demand for withdrawal of land-row cases in Jammu

Srinagar, Jun 09: Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday reiterated its demand for withdrawal of cases against those involved in 2008 agitation in Jammu.
Addressing a press conference, BJP’s State Chief Spokesperson, Sunil Sethi, said that New Delhi has decided to withdraw cases against “first-time” offenders involved in stone pelting in Kashmir.
“Cases are being withdrawn against first-time stone-pelting offenders to stabilise the situation in the valley. These misguided youth have been instigated by Pakistan and separatists in Kashmir to indulge in stone pelting,” Sethi said.
“Efforts are being made to bring them to the mainstream as the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also said during his two-day visit.”
The spokesperson said the cases should also be withdrawn against those involved in 2008 agitation in Jammu.
“Thousands participated in 2008 agitation. Many have been booked in fake case without any evidence against them,” he said, flanked by State Spokesperson Brigadier Anil Gupta and Arun Gupta.
In 2008, protests erupted in Jammu against the government’s decision to cancel the illegal transfer of forest land to the Amaranth Shrine Board.
The protesters, led by Amaranth Shrine Sangharsh Samiti, had enforced an economic blockade on Kashmir by blocking the only road link to the valley.
Fourteen people were killed and hundreds injured in Jammu during the resulting over 60-day row.
“All the FIRs registered during Shri Amaranth Land Row agitation (in the Jammu region) is to be withdrawn,” reads a resolution passed by BJP.
The BJP has also demanded setting up of minority commission for minority Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christens and others in the state. “Minorities Commission to be constituted as committed before the Supreme Court by the government,” the resolution said.
The ruling ally in the state also called for settling West Pakistan refugees in Jammu and Kashmir.
The party demanded early conduct of municipal elections abolition of the toll post at Lakhanpur, the entry point to J&K.