Central Varsity Row

Jammu bandh hits life
BJP leaders court arrest

Ravi Krishnan Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, August 10

Normal life was affected here today due to a near total Jammu bandh, call for which had been given by the Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS), demanding setting up of the proposed central university in Samba. The bandh was also observed in Kathua, Samba, Reasi and Udhampur districts.

While no untoward incident was reported from any part of Jammu region, around 30 BJP leaders, including state president and sitting MLA Ashok Khajuria, general secretary Charanjeet Singh Khalsa and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha vice-president Munish Sharma, courted arrest.
However, another BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi was arrested in Purani Mandi when he was allegedly trying to enforce bandh in the area.
The leaders courted arrests when they tried to take out a procession in the violation of Section 144 of the CrPC.
Amidst an intense sloganeering by BJP activists against the coalition government, Khajuria warned the government of intensifying the agitation if it failed to set up the institution in Jammu.
Though the state administration had clamped Section 144 of the CrPC prohibiting the gathering of more than four persons at public places, CUAS activists also defied the orders and took out rallies in and around the temple city.
Outside Jammu University, the CUAS activists blocked the road leading to the railway station and burnt tyres besides shouting slogans against the NC-Congress government accusing it of harbouring malafide intentions vis-à-vis the central university.
Earlier in the morning, the activists, led by its convener retired Justice Paviter Singh, assembled outside the Raj Bhawan here to take out a rally to Purani Mandi.
Talking to mediapersons, Paviter Singh regretted that despite protests by students from the past over a fortnight, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had maintained silence over the issue.
As per the decision of the Union government, the central university should have been set up in Jammu, he said, describing students’ agitation as genuine.
While the bandh was near total and peaceful, most of the shops and business establishments remained closed. Schools and colleges also remained closed and thin attendance was reported in various government offices and banks.
By and large, public transport also remained off the roads but a few minibuses and auto-rickshaws plied in the city. Tourists and pilgrims, who reached Jammu railway station and bus terminals, had to face hardships. The Bar Association, Jammu (BAJ), also suspended work in the high court and lower courts.

However, the state government had made all arrangements to prevent any untoward incident.

(http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090811/j&k.htm#1)