STATES

JAMMU & KASHMIR

Protest Against Farooq Govt.

Jammu : A large number of Congress workers, led by All India Youth Congress president Randeep Singh Surjewala, held a rally here on 6 November at the Exhibition Ground, City Chowk and took out a protest march against NDA Government policies.

The protestors handed over a memorandum addressed to the President, in which the dismissal of the Farooq Government was demanded. The memorandum also demanded a national youth policy and banning of the Bajrang Dal for anti-national activities on the line of SIMI.

Speaking on the occasion, senior Congress leader and former Member of Parliament Mangat Ram Sharma lambasted the state government for its failure on all fronts. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of entering into a secret pact with the ruling National Conference.

Addressing the Youth Congress workers, Mr. Surjewala demanded the dismissal of the Farooq Government "as it has failed on all fronts". He alleged that the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre, of which the BJP and the NC were both a part, had endangered the security of the country by its inept handling of many issues. He told the Congress workers to be ready for all kinds of sacrifices in order to bring the Congress party back to power.

State Youth Congress president Yogesh Sawhney said the Farooq Government was totally anti-Jammu and was only interested in filling the pockets of its leaders. He urged the President and the Prime Minister to ensure free and fair elections in the State. Among others who spoke on the occasion include former Member of Parliament Ayub Khan, former minister Peerzaada Mohd. Sayeed, Yashpal Khajuria, MLAs Balbir Singh and Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Mottan, Garu Ram, Shiv Dev Singh, M.L. Koul, Raman Bhalla, Chuni Lal Bhat, Vijay Lakshmi Duta, Ravinder Sharma, Ashwani Puri, Dr. Gurdeep Singh and Pankaj Dogra.