Jammu observes violence free, disciplined shutdown

*Reports from Reasi, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur said that Bandh remained peaceful and no vehicular movement was disrupted on national highways.

Ajmer Alam Wani

JAMMU, AUG 10: Perhaps for the first time in the history of strikes, shutdowns and Bandhs observed in Jammu and Kashmir State; Monday’s Bandh over the issue of Central University (CU) site was well disciplined, organized and free from violence.

The credit goes to those who organized the Monday’s shutdown and chalked out the strategies for the day giving no room to the violence like incidents.

This was the first Bandh, in which no one was forced to participate. Every one participated voluntarily and by heart. Earlier, shopkeepers were usually being forced to shutdown their shops and people were forced to participate in shutdowns so the violence has remained a part of shutdowns during the past. But the discipline shown by the CUAS in today’s Bandh clearly indicates that those who have been agitating/protesting are against violence and want to go peaceful to fight for their demands.

If the issue is not resolved at the earliest and CUAS continues with the method of agitation adopted, the support of the common men and the strength will definitely go multifold in days to come. In the past many agitations have been suppressed by the governments by using force and other means but such agitations in which organizers do not leave any space for the violence or any kind of trouble, suppressing it is not easy for a government.

Monday’s shutdown was well organized keeping in view the public emotions as no vehicular movement was disrupted on National Highways!

Moreover, due to Jammu Bandh called by the Central University Andolan Samiti (CUAS) which is a conglomerate of social, political and student groups, normal life came to standstill across Jammu on Monday. Due to Jammu Bandh all shops across the city of temples and business establishments remained closed, vehicles were off the roads and government offices reported thin attendance. Though, the government tried to persuade the transport operators yet transport remained non operational. However, some private vehicles were plying as usual. As there were no passenger vehicles plying on the roads, pilgrims visiting Vaishno Devi shrine faced difficulties as vehicles were not in operation to carry them to the base camp of the shrine in Katra. The Samiti has been protesting the attempt to shift the site of Central University from Jammu region to Kashmir Valley. Relevant to mention here that the CUAS is asking the government to either begin setting up the Central University in Samba or give in writing that the Central University will be first set up in the Jammu region and then in Kashmir. Earlier the state government had identified a place close to Samba for the site of the institution after the Central Government announced that a Central University will be established in Jammu and Kashmir state but later there was a proposal to open it in Kashmir Valley. The reported proposal to shift the site of Central University to Kashmir Valley triggered discontent amongst the students and student groups supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other regional groups have been agitating against the decision. There have been student protests, demonstrations, and boycott of classes for the last 15 days over the issue. According to Convener CUAS, Pavitar Singh, Central University) should have been set up in Jammu as a natural sequel to the Central Government's decision to establish it in the region. Jammu students are agitating for their rights. Meanwhile, as the Jammu observed peaceful Bandh, two senior leaders of BJP including the State President, Ashok Khajuria were arrested before a protest rally on Monday. Those BJP leaders court arrested included State President and MLA Jammu East Ashok Khajuria and senior leader Yudhvir Sethi. Reports said that Khajuria was later realesed and dropped at Jammu Airport from where he went to Srinagar and the attended the Budget Session.

Some student leaders were also arrested before the demonstration rally, which was scheduled to be taken out this morning. The arrests were made to avoid any untoward incident. No incident of violence has been reported far from any part of the region when the reports last came in. Reports from other districts including Reasi, Samba, Kathua and Udhampur said that Bandh remained peaceful and no vehicular movement was disrupted on national highways.