CM's statement "irresponsible": Mayor
KT NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, July 4: Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) Mayor Kavinder Gupta has termed the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement that revocation of land transfer order was all win-win situation for Jammu as an "irresponsible" statement.
Addressing media persons here this morning, JMC Mayor asked Chief Minister to refrain from making such statements. He alleged that the Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma and Minister for Higher Education Gulchain Singh Charak were the real "culprits" of present crisis in Jammu region.
"The statement of Chief Minister that revocation of land transfer order was all win-win situation was an irresponsible statement and he should not make such statements. It has hurt the sentiments of millions of Jammu people. Both Mangat Ram Sharma and Gulchain Singh Charak are real culprits for prevailing crisis in Jammu region," he alleged.
He further alleged, "By making such statements, Chief Minister has added fuel to the fire. He should refrain from making such statements." He further accused Mangat Ram Sharma and Gulchain Singh Charak of playing with the sentiments of people of Jammu region.
He informed that JMC has adopted a resolution seeking withdrawal of revocation of land transfer order. "Over 35 Corporators-cutting across party lines-have adopted the resolution that the 800 kanals of forest land should be given to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board," he informed.

Panun Kashmir to continue support to Sangarsh Samiti
KT NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, July 4: Panun Kashmir-a frontline organization of Kashmiri Pandits- today resolved to continue its full support to Amarnath Shrine Board Sangharsh Samiti seeking withdrawal of revocation of land transfer order.
In a meeting held under the chairmanship of its convenor Dr Agnishekhar, the members of the organization took stock of various political developments in the state and resolved to continue their full support to Samiti. The organization regretted the "meek surrender" of ruling Congress before "anti-national" and "separatist" forces.
"The clamping of curfew in Jammu and freedom to anti-nationals to raise Pakistan flags and slogans is a matter of great concern. Government terms the communal uproar of Kashmir as popular majority sentiment and terms the spontaneous reaction of Jammu as political exploitation," Dr Agnishekhar added.
"The statement made by Minister for Higher Education Gulchain Singh Charak about Dr Agnishekhar on a television channel that he along with his family incited people is unfortunate," he alleged, adding that the movement in Jammu against the government is a spontaneous people's reaction to the machinations of the government.
He also termed the statement of the Chief Minister that the revocation of land of SASB and government take over of the arrangements of the Amarnath yatra as the 'event of the century' as very "unfortunate".
"Forest land has been given free to BGBU and other Islamic institutions free of cost without anybody raising an eyebrow and today when just 800 kanals of land was given to Hindus the whole world has gone against it. The silence maintained by Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi and Congress president of Jammu and Kashmir is highly regrettable," he maintained.
Panun Kashmir appealed to the community to remain united and remain on guard against the "black sheep" in the community.

PDP, NC Cong leaders resign in Udhampur
KT NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, July 4: In growing resentment against Kashmiri leadership on Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) land row, senior leaders of the peoples Democratic Party (PDP), National Conference (NC) and Congress in Udhampur today tendered their resignations to show solidarity with the saffron brigade on the issue.
Cutting across party affiliations, the district president of People's Democratic Party (PDP) and three Muslim leaders of National Conference and Congress resigned from their parties, along with their supporters at a joint press conference in Udhampur this afternoon.
Prominent among those who resigned included PDP district president Surinder Singh 'Fauji', NC leaders Nassir Hussain and Anwar Chandel 'Raju' and Congress leader Syed Peer Gulzar Shah. With the resignation of Surinder Singh, who was accompanied by hundreds of his supporters and PDP workers, sources said, the PDP has lost base in entire district.
Reports said that all the leaders and workers had expressed solidarity with the ongoing agitation sponsored by saffron brigade and showed willingness to join BJP. BJP state president Ashok Khajuria, when contacted on phone, said "People of Jammu, particularly those who follow Muslim faith, have come to understand the fact that how they were being used as vote bank."
"The inclination of leaders following different faiths to join BJP shows that our party was never communal on any issue,'' he added.

PDP distt secy, others resign
KT NEWS SERVICE
JAMMU, Jul 4: Puneet Jamwal has tendered resignation from the post of district secretary PDP along with one hundred workers on account of anti-Jammu stand taken by the leadership which, he said, has alienated the local workers form the general public.
He said that the situation which has emerged at present has forced him to disassociate from the party in the interest of the Jammu people