Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 28

The controversy over rewarding Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi by the Army and the decision of the PDP-BJP government not to withdraw the FIR against him in the much-publicised ‘human shield’ case is getting bigger as the J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu, on Saturday came out in support of the officer.Jammu-based political and social groups have already launched a campaign in support of Major Gogoi and the BJP, which is an equal partner in the government, is facing intense pressure to withdraw the FIR in the case.Despite pressure, BJP ministers in the coalition have maintained a guarded silence although the central leadership of the party has openly came in support of Major Gogoi. Despite repeated attempts, none of the BJP ministers in the government are ready to come on record on the issue.Meanwhile, president of the High Court Bar Association, BS Slathia today asked the government to immediately withdraw the FIR against Major Gogoi as, according to him, registering a case against a brave officer would demoralise the forces.General secretary of the Bar Association, Prem Sadhotra said, “We will not remain a mute spectator to the decision of the state government to not to withdraw the FIR against Major Gogoi.”Meanwhile, activists of the Panthers Party today asked the state government to immediate withdraw the FIR against the officer.Panthers Party leader Harsh Dev Singh expressed his shock over the way the officer was treated by the BJP-PDP government.“Even the most logical and convincing explanation given by the Army officer for his action went unheard and the BJP-partnered government announced to proceed with the investigation and trial of the national hero,” Harsh Dev Singh said.