Asif Iqbal Naik
KISHTWAR
Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS), an ultra-nationalist Hindu organization, on Tuesday celebrated its 91st foundation day in Kishtwar.
At least 1000 RSS activists including government employees participated and held a march in the communally sensitive Kishtwar town that witnessed curfew and protests following arrest of five persons including a local Imam recently.
This time, the RSS Pracharaks wore full length pants unlike past.
As per the details available with Kashmir Life, the RSS activists first assembled at Bhartiya Vidya Mandir School Kishtwar located in the outskirts of Kishtwar town where several organization activists had arrived from outside to address the gathering and highlight the “policies, aims and objectives” of the Sangh. Sunil Kumar Sharma, MoS transport in Ms Mehbooba Mufti lead PDP-BJP government was part of the RSS function.
After addressing the gathering, the participants took out march through various areas of Kishtwar town including Bunastan, Shaheedi road and its peripheral areas before it came to an end.
Keeping in view the RSS march, which is second of its kind that took place in Kishtwar district in last two years, district administration Kishtwar had made elaborated security arrangements and blocked all entry and exit points en route to roads wherefrom RSS held the march. However, police did not allow the RSS activists to march towards Muslim dominated Bus Stand area.
The RSS activists returned from old DC office Kishtwar.
It is pertinent to mention here that over fifty youths were booked on the eve of Eid-ul-Azha for raising anti-India slogans during protests that took place in Kishtwar district after Hizb Commander Burhan Wani’s killing.
Moreover, two resistance leaders were booked under notorious Public Safety Act (PSA) and three are presently lodged at District Jail Kishtwar while scores of others are at large and have gone underground to avoid arrest.
Meanwhile, former R&B Minister and MLA from Inderwal, Ghulam Muhammad Saroori in his statement issued today said that state government is promoting the communal activities in Chenab Valley by allowing such events.
“State government is acting irresponsibly by promoting RSS in this sensitive region as was seen in today’s case and a similar one that took place in Doda town few days back,” he said.
Hitting out at PDP, which is heading the coalition in the state with BJP, Saroori said, “RSS is BJP’s fountainhead and by allowing RSS to carry out anti-peace march that has a potential to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state, the state government headed by PDP has proved that it’s being run by the RSS only.”
“RSS is not only the threat to peace and stability in Muslim areas of Jammu region, but as a whole a threat to the secular frame of the country,” he added.
Saroori said that PDP -BJP government led by Mehbooba Mufti has “failed and should” surrender by accepting that they “cannot” run the state.
He said by using pellet guns on innocent Kashmiri people and on Muharram processions are the worst atrocities displayed by state government.
“The killing of 12-year-old Junaid Ahmad is an open murder on streets of Kashmir,” he added. “The 7th class student was in no mean a threat to security.”
District Secretary National Conference Kishtwar Shabir Ahmed Kamal termed the RSS march in Kishtwar as an open threat to long lasting peace and tranquillity in Kishtwar District.
“By allowing such march, the district administration proves that it works under the direct influence of RSS backed lobby,” he said.
“Such activities will not only create communal divide in Muslim areas of Jammu region, but in a state as whole. Both PDP and BJP despite being in power had not deviate from the basic principles of divide and rule policy,” he added.
He charged the coalition partners of fanning the communal disharmony by allowing organization like RSS to carry out anti-peace march in the state including the one that took place in Doda few days back.
The NC member said that Kishtwar District administration instead of playing in the hands of fanatic elements should focus on public delivery system
He also demanded action against those officials who allowed today’s RSS march despite the fact that Kishtwar District had went under difficult times during last few weeks.
