Jammu, Dec 14: The Shiv Sena (UBT) Jammu and Kashmir unit, led by its state president Manish Sahni, staged a protest at the Hari Singh statue site in Jammu on Saturday, demanding the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
Protesters, holding placards that read “Stop Step-Motherly Treatment to Jammu and Kashmir” and “PM, Fulfill Your Promise – Restore Statehood”, demonstrated with black bands tied around their heads.
Sahni, according to a party statement issued here, criticised the Central government for its lack of action on the issue, accusing it of breaking repeated promises of restoring statehood over the past five and a half years. “Despite the significant legislative activity in the ongoing winter session, including the approval of the One Country, One Election proposal and the passage of the Disaster Management (Amendment) Act, no concrete steps have been taken to fulfill the promise of statehood restoration,” he said.
The Shiv Sena leader alleged that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are being subjected to a “step-motherly” treatment and questioned whether the delay is due to the region being Muslim-majority. “During meetings between former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October, assurances were given to restore statehood within this year,” he said. However, Sahni lamented that no progress has been made.
He warned of launching a massive public movement if the government continues to neglect the issue.
Several party leaders and supporters, including Sunny Kant Chib (Chairman, Human Rights Council J&K), Vikas Bakshi, Jai Bharti, Balwant Singh, Raj Singh, Rajesh Jandial, Geeta Lakhotra, Rohan Malwal, Dimple, Rajjat, Swarn Veer Singh, Zakir Hussain, Khalid, and Vijay Kumar, participated in the protest, the statement said.
The protesters called on the Central government to honour its constitutional commitment and take immediate steps to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
