Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A group of Shiv Sena activists led by the president of the J&K unit of the party, Manish Sahni on Tuesday staged a demonstration in support of their demand for restoration of statehood and extension of Article 371 of the constitution to Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest was held near the party headquarters at Channi chowk in Jammu at a time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a three-day visit to the Union Territory, reports PTI.
Carrying tricolour in their hands, the Shiv Sainiks raised slogans in support of special status under Article 371, restoration of statehood and safe environment for Hindus in Kashmir.
“With abrogating Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and bifurcating J&K into two UTs, the central government promised development, employment along with protection to our cultural identity and rights. None of the promises were fulfilled,” Shiv Sena chief of J&K unit Sahni said.
He said they are on the roads to remind the home minister of the promises he made to the people of J&K on the floor of the house.
“For the last three years, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have not received any benefit for being a Union Territory,” he said, urging the government to fulfill its promise of development, peace and ample employment opportunities for the local youth.
The Shiv Sena leader emphasised that it was the right of the people of J&K to have certain privileges under Article 371 on the lines of the northeast and other border states of the country.
“We need protection of our rights over land and jobs besides our cultural identity,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
