PM’s Jammu visit to highlight role of Girdhari Lal Dogra in state politics

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Bhaiya (Hiranagar), July 12

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the winter capital on the centenary birth celebrations of freedom fighter and veteran Jammu leader Girdhari Lal Dogra on July 17 has brought into focus the latter’s role in J&K politics, especially in uplifting poor and down trodden.

Born in this sleepy village of Hiranagar Assembly constituency on July 17, 1915, Dogra remained Finance Minister of the state for 27 years and had the distinction of presenting 26 Budgets.

Dogra remained MLA for six terms while he was elected as Member of Parliament twice —- once each from Jammu-Poonch and Udhampur-Doda parliamentary segments. He was associated with the National Conference and the Congress party during his political career.

Apart from his association with national leaders like former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Moraji Desai and former President Giani Zail Singh, Dogra also worked with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and GM Sadiq, all former Prime Ministers of J&K.

“He (Dogra) never differentiated between his supporters and opponents in politics. Prime Minister’s scheduled visit to attend his centenary birth celebrations shows that he continues to rule the hearts and minds of people even after his death in 1987,” said Jagdish Dogra, 72, cousin of Girdhari Lal Dogra.

Jagdish Dogra, who remained associated with his cousin all through his political years, said: “Despite being a Congress leader, he never hesitated to entertain Jana Sangh workers. He treated all sections of society equally. He had dedicated his life to the people.”

“After Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was arrested by the then ruler Maharaja Hari Singh, being a lawyer it was Girdhari Lal Dogra who dared to file a ‘vakalatnama’ for his release,” said Jagdish Dogra.

“Later, Dogra Sahib was taken in the first Cabinet of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah as Finance Minister,” he added.

“He was like a messiah for the people of Jammu. He never looked people through the narrow prism of caste, religion and creed. Unlike today’s political class, he always focused on the welfare of people,” he said.

The doors of Girdhari Lal Dogra’s ancestral house remain closed and his daughters occasionally visit the village. Girdhari Lal Dogra was father-in-law of the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

The village, however, lacks development as lanes remain in dilapidated condition. It has poor transport facility and only mode of transportation is auto-rickshaw, which ferries commuters as per a ‘fixed time table’.

Jagdish Dogra, who happens to be the Congress block president said: “The first tube-well of J&K was installed in this village on an experimental basis. Dogra sahib had brought this scheme from Rajasthan to see its potential in the Kandi areas.”

“The single-lane road to the village was built during his time. But thereafter, nobody cared about us. We don’t want any favour from the government for being the family members of Dogra sahib, but they (government) must understand that this village deserves attention,” he said.

Darbari Lal Dogra, 90, brother of Girdhari Lal Dogra, said: “He remained committed to the people of J&K throughout his life. He had even refused the post of Lok Sabha Speaker, which was offered to him by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, saying he would not to serve his people while sitting on a chair.”