Political leaders of the Shiv Sena, National Panthers Party and Dogra Swabhiman Party gathered in Jammu to demand restoration of statehood, parliamentary elections and extension of Article 371 to Jammu and Kashmir.
Jammu: Leaders of various political parties on Monday gathered for a meeting in Jammu to demand immediate restoration of statehood, parliamentary elections and extension of Article 371 to Jammu and Kashmir. Prominent political leaders from various political parties included the Shiv Sena (UBT), the National Panther Party (NPP) and the Dogra Swabhiman Party (DSSP). These parties also demanded deportation of illegally settled immigrants, early return and settlement of the Kashmiri migrant Pandits and regularization of daily wagers, according to a report by news agency PTI.
Meet for all parties advocates the restoration of state and local government
This was the first time a political rally took place in Jammu after the Supreme Court upheld the Centre's abrogation of Article 370 on December 11, 2019.
NPP president Harsh Dev Singh told PTI that: “We participated in the 'all-party meet' organized by the Shiv Sena and Sainik Samaj Party and raised our demand for immediate restoration of statehood and a democratically elected government in Jammu and Kashmir emphasizes.”
Harsh Dev Singh also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of ruling Jammu and Kashmir by proxy for the past few years. He further stated that “almost all the bureaucrats stationed in J&K are from outside and know nothing about the region, due to which alienation among the locals is increasing day by day.”
“The democratically elected government is also an antidote to militancy, extremism and violence,” Singh said, adding that his party will always remain at the forefront to protect the interests of the people of the Jammu region.
Key issues discussed at an all-party meeting
According to Shiv Sena (UBT) Jammu and Kashmir President Manish Sahni, the meeting was organized to discuss various 'burning issues' related to Jammu and Kashmir, especially the Jammu region. These issues include restoration of statehood and extension of special status under Article 371 to J&K, besides holding of parliamentary elections, deportation of illegally settled immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh and return and rehabilitation of migrants from Kashmir, Manish Sahni said .
He explained that the meeting also emphasized on immediate removal of all toll plazas from the Jammu-Pathankot highway in view of the heavy flow of pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and regularization of daily wagers.
Protection of land and labor rights of the local population
Vijayant Pathania, district president of DSSP, said his party is in favor of extending Article 371 of the Constitution to Jammu and Kashmir to protect the land and labor rights of the local people.
Anna Durani, a social activist, said a total of eight points were discussed during the meeting, which also included protecting Dogra culture and heritage and including Punjabi in the list of official languages. She further stated that there is a need for unity and sustained struggle to achieve the eight-point agenda.
(With input from agencies)