Jammu, Jan 11: Shiv Sena (UBT) Jammu-Kashmir unit has demanded the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a long-standing demand of the region, as the party feels that the development works and projects have disproportionately benefited the Kashmir Valley, leaving behind the Jammu division.
Speaking at a press conference held at the party’s state central office today, Manish Sahni, state chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), said that development works like the Z-Mod tunnel on Srinagar-Leh national highway and the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail service in Kashmir have been welcomed, but the need to develop tourist places in Jammu division has been ignored.
“We appreciate the efforts to develop Kashmir, but this cannot come at the cost of neglecting Jammu division,” Sahni said, adding, “By ignoring the development needs of the Jammu division, the BJP government is taking the people for granted, and this will not be tolerated anymore.”
Sahni also reminded the BJP that their electoral victory in the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha and 2014 and 2024 assembly elections was largely due to their promises to address the developmental issues in Jammu division. However, the party feels that the government has not fulfilled these promises.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader listed several tourist places in Jammu division that require development, including Suchetgarh, Jhajjar Kotli, Bani, Basohli, Mata Bala Sundari of Kathua, and Panchari, Basantgarh, Suddhmahadev, Mantalai in Udhampur, Baba Chamliyal of Samba, Baglihar, Chandrakot, Natha Top, Gool in Ramban, and several other places.
Sahni warned the BJP that they should not take the people of Jammu division for granted, and demanded that development projects should be initiated in Jammu division at the earliest. He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restore the statehood status to Jammu and Kashmir on the occasion of Lohri and Makar Sankranti.
