Boycotting the official Independence Day function in Jammu for the first time since 1947, nearly 50,000 people gathered at Mubarak Mandi complex, the seat of power of the erstwhile Dogra rulers, for a parallel function organised by the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS).

Amid chants of Bum Bum Bhole and Bharat Mata Ki Jai, SASS convenor Leela Karan Sharma unfurled the Tricolour. Sharma announced that their agitation would continue until the land was restored to the Shrine Board. He, however, appealed to the people to maintain communal harmony, saying they should be cautious of those trying to communalise the agitation. He was accompanied by various other Samiti leaders.

It is for the first time in the history of Jammu that people have stayed away from official functions and decided to hold parallel ceremonies. Compared to the gathering at the Mubarak Mandi complex, the venue of the official function wore a deserted look. Barring a few former ministers and over a hundred children, there were only Government officials present at the venue.

Samiti leaders said 50,000 people were present at the Mubaraq Mandi function. It was a sea of humanity inside the sprawling complex, with all the galleries around its main park jampacked with people.

All those present on the occasion pledged to take the ongoing agitation to its logical conclusion.

On Thursday, the Samiti had announced that it would celebrate Independence Day at over 100f spots across Jammu, while boycotting official functions. In Jammu city, people held parallel celebrations at nearly 40 places.