Jammu Tawi, Dec 5: The Shiv Sena (UBT) Jammu-Kashmir unit has demanded that Jammu be declared the permanent capital of Jammu and Kashmir and called for a separate budget allocation for the development of tourist places in the Jammu division. The party also urged for the inclusion of Jammu’s tourist destinations on the tourism map.
During an awareness program organized at the party’s state central office, state chief Manish Sahni highlighted that despite being larger than Kashmir in both area and population, Jammu has been neglected in terms of political representation, with a disproportionate allocation of assembly and Lok Sabha seats. Sahni argued that this imbalance has led to the region’s inability to have a Hindu Chief Minister in the 77 years since the state’s merger with India. He also criticized the BJP for failing to address these issues during its tenure.
Sahni further pointed out that the development of road and rail routes has negatively impacted Jammu’s trade and economy. He emphasized that declaring Jammu as the permanent capital would boost the local economy, address allegations of discrimination, and mitigate the impacts of adverse weather and terrorism on administrative functions.
Additionally, the Shiv Sena demanded a separate budget for the development of Jammu’s tourist sites, stressing that the promise made in 2021 to develop 38 tourist destinations in the region remains unfulfilled. Sahni warned that the party would launch an agitation at the district level if there is no positive response from the government and appealed to the public to support the campaign.
