Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Sept 23: Raising a critical issue ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, former MLA and MLC Ashok Sharma, a candidate of Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) from the 83 Kalakote-Sunderbani constituency, expressed deep concern over the announcement made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
During an election rally at Nowshera, Shah promised to consider creating a new district in Nowshera if BJP candidate Ravinder Raina is elected with a majority of 20,000 votes. Sharma condemned this statement, claiming it was a manipulative attempt to sway voters and that it disregards the interests of the people of Sunder Bani, Siot, Kalakote, and Taryath tehsils, all part of his constituency.
He argued that Nowshera does not meet the necessary criteria for district status in terms of distance, backwardness, or centrality to these areas. Moreover, Sharma said that such announcement amounts to violation of Model Code of Conduct on the one hand and frustration among the population of his constituency on the other hand.
Sharma also expressed concern on the way some elements are playing cards to get more and more votes on the basis of religion, caste, sub caste etc which amounts to a challenge to the unity of nation.