"The people of Jammu Pradesh have been subjected to discrimination, insult, humiliation and ruthless serfdom of the Kashmir rulers who have always picked up some opportunist elements of Jammu to govern, loot and squeeze the people of Jammu Pradesh," JKNPP chief Prof Bhim Singh said while addressing the rally.
A large number of people participated in the protest rally that started from outside the gates of Raj Bhawan here and culminated at Dogra Chowk after passing through various parts of the Jammu city.
"For the past 67 years, the Jammu people have been suffering in the hands of the Kashmiri leadership who have always adopted a discriminatory approach against the people here. The Dogras, the Paharies, the Gujjar-Bakerwals, Gaddies and all who have suffered for six decades must unite to show their strength to such leaders," Singh said.
He said that the issue of the difference in the B.Ed session in the two parts of the state was a glaring example of the discrimination with the Jammu region.
More From This Section
Further accusing the BJP of betraying the people and not sticking to the poll promises, Singh said: "The saffron party has struck a blow to the people of Jammu region after it came to power. The promises it made to the people of Jammu during the parliamentary and assembly elections were just eyewash and all the agendas were used to befool the people of Jammu."
He said the issue of reported shifting of the proposed AIIMS from Jammu to Kashmir was another specimen of the extent to which the BJP has sold itself to the PDP for the sake of power.