Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 30: Shiv Sena (UBT) today accused the Centre of making hollow promises to the people of J&K and challenged it to conduct the first assembly elections in J&K through a ballot paper.
The party’s State Chief, Manish Sahni, currently on a 2-day visit to J&K, also announced that Shiv Sena will participate in all upcoming elections with a resolve to address public issues.
“A number of people joined us today, and we have also finalized the formation of district bodies. On the direction of Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, we are here to meet the people, and we will fight all the elections with the sole motive of highlighting the people’s issues,” he told media persons at Ganderbal.
He took a dig at the BJP leaders, stating that after recently registering victory in three states, they are loudly trumpeting Modi’s guarantees.
“However, on the reorganization of J&K, including the early restoration of statehood, freedom from terrorism, ending unemployment, filling vacant posts, establishing a film city in Kashmir, and promises of rehabilitation for Kashmiri Pandits, dozens of guarantees were made, which, after four and a half years, have proved to be hollow and mere words,” he said.
He expressed that the people of J&K are extremely disappointed, which is why the elections are not being held. “They (BJP) know if the elections are held right now, they will be thrown out; they have read the people and know the outcome.”
Concerned about the current situation in J&K, Sahni mentioned that as per the instructions of the party’s National President, Uddhav Thackeray, the party will participate in all upcoming elections.
Sahni emphasized that the party’s resolution includes better education, health facilities, jobs for local youth, reservation in educational institutions, and free electricity and water in J&K.
On the issue of other parties raising the matter of Article 370, he clarified that the focus is not on Article 370 but on the people’s issues and the guarantees that have been given.
He suggested demanding Article 371 for the betterment of the people instead of sticking to 370.
He also raised questions about the use of EVMs, noting that even developed nations are not using them. “If they are so sure about their performance, why not make the use of ballot paper. We will get to know who the people support. There have been instances which have raised questions over the EVMs
Sahni concluded by accusing the BJP of trying to destroy Shiv Sena, stating, “They tried everything to decimate Shiv Sena, but every time they have failed because we have fought for the people’s issues.”
On the occasion, Women’s Wing President Meenakshi Chhibber, General Secretary Vikas Bakshi, Vice President Sanjeev Kohli, Balwant Singh, President Kamgar Wing Raj Singh, Mangu Ram, President Kashmir Bashir Malik, Manzoor Ahmed, Imran Akbar, Naseer Ahmed, Imtiaz Ahmed, Altaf Ahmed, Asif Ahmed, Mohammad Rafiq, GH Hasan, Manzoor Ahmed, and many others were present.
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