Jammu, July 20: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devender Singh Rana led a delegation of protesting shopkeepers and other representatives from the Nai Basti area in a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday. The delegation sought the Lieutenant Governor’s intervention to address their concerns regarding a recent widening drive that affects their establishments.
Following the meeting, Rana said the Lieutenant Governor was sympathetic to the shopkeepers’ demands. “The government’s intention has always been and will continue to be to protect the interests of the poor and underprivileged,” he said.
In his appeal, Rana said the Nai Basti shopkeepers have operated their businesses for the past six to seven decades. “Their ancestors also ran small businesses from these establishments, and their relocation would significantly impact their families. In total, 39 establishments are affected by the widening drive,” he added.
The BJP leader expressed gratitude to LG Sinha for his patient hearing and reassurances during the meeting. “Mr. Manoj Sinha Ji has consistently acted in favor of addressing the genuine demands of the people,” Rana said. “The Lieutenant Governor assured the delegation that their concerns would be thoroughly examined, and efforts would be made to ensure their livelihoods are not disrupted.”
The delegation included Pawan Singh (Ex-Corporator), Naveen Gupta (Bazar President), Gurpreet Dogra, Shiv Kumar, Tarsem Lal, Sanjay Gupta, Vivek Kumar, Raj Singh, Sham Lal, Vikas Verma, Jaivinder Singh, Dinesh Kumar Raina, Rakesh Kumar, Ashok Kumar, Vikrant Sharma and others.
