BJP-sponsored bandh disrupts normal life in Jammu

Normal life was crippled in Jammu today following a bandh call given by BJP against the alleged 'Kashmir centric' eight-point peace formula announced by the centre.

Shops and business establishments were closed and traffic remained off the roads in the city in support of the call, police said.

Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Akhnoor, Sunderbani, Reasi, Katra, Chenani, Hirangar, Lakhanpur and Nourshera areas observed a complete bandh in support of the call.

"There was no untoward incident reported from anywhere as Bandh was peaceful till now," they said.

Attributing the bandh primarily to the centre's eight point formula, BJP state president, Shamsher Singh Manhas told reporters in Jammu, "The bandh is to protest against the Kashmir-centric 8-point formula formulated to save Omar government in order to appease separatists."

Besides this, the bandh is in protest against policies of the Congress-led UPA and NC-Congress government, where by Jammu has been ignored and discriminated in all field, he alleged.

"The recently anounced eight-point package by the centre is nothing but a policy formulated at the instance of state government to appease separatists so that Omar government continues in power," he said.

Demanding the dismissal of the Omar Abdullah government, he said that the state government has failed on all fronts including governance and law and order front.

Supporting the bandh call, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) working chairman and former minister, Harash Dev Singh told reporters that Omar Abdullah government has failed on the ground as it has lost credibility among the people.

"Omar Abdullah is on the chief minister's chair on clutches of New Delhi. There is no government seen on the ground," he said.

BJP sponsored bandh is supported by JKNPP, VHP, Jammu Joint Peoples Front, Kranti Dal, Panun Kashmir, ABVP, ASKPC, APMCC, Jammu State Morcha, Janta Dal, Bajrang Dal, Shiv sena and other trade and transport bodies.