Jammu, Feb 23: Police foiled a protest march of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) workers towards civil secretariat, here on Thursday.
 Alleging discrimination with Jammu region, the activist of JKNPP staged a protest demonstration against the coalition Government, on the opening day of Budget Session of the State legislature.
 Under the leadership of party chief Prof Bhim Singh, dozens of JKNPP activists and leaders assembled outside the Civil Secretariat. The protesters were shouting slogans against the coalition government and were demanding immediate dismissal of the Government.
 The protesters were stopped by a heavy contingent of police and para-military personnel when they started marching towards the civil secretariat.
 There was a minor scuffle between the protesters and police personnel when the protesters following which police detained Bhim Singh and several NPP workers.
 Criticizing the State government for its alleged discrimination with Jammu region, Singh said that his party will continue to raise voice against the “discriminatory policies” of the coalition government. “Our struggle is on, and the best way to deliver justice to all the three regions of the State, is the reorganization of the State,” he told media persons, when he was being detained by the police.
 Condemning the police action, Singh rued, “this is the oppression of the Government on peaceful protesters. We appeal to the Governor NN Vohra that this tainted government should be dismissed without any delay. It is a government of thieves and it has no reason to be in power”.
 Ex-MLA and Provincial President Faqir Nath, State General Secretary Anita Thakur, Political Advisor to NPP Bansi Lal Sharma, Coordination Secretary Jagdev Singh, Khajoor Singh and Paramjeet Singh Marshall, Gunwant Singh, Pushvinder Singh, Manoj Kumar, Varinder Singh, Jashan Qazmi, Naveen Sharma were also among the protesters.
 Meanwhile after getting the information about the use of force against Singh, the party activists staged protest demonstrations at Press Club, Amphalla and Canal road.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 IST