NVI Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 15 (NVI): Ahead of the new government formation in J&K, BJP leader Choudhary Zulfikar Ali who lost recent Assembly elections in Budhal-Darhal Assembly segment in Jammu, today stoked major controversy by demanding a separate UT status for Rajouri-Poonch on the lines of Ladakh.
The statement comes a a day ahead of swearing in ceremony of Chief Minister designate Omar Abdullah and his team of ministers.
Addressing workers in Budhal-Darhal Assembly constituency, the BJP leader said that for the past 70 years, National Conference and Congress got votes from Rajouri-Poonch but never fulfilled the promises they made to the people here. “This time again, they have won seven seats from Rajouri-Poonch and yet this region will face discrimination as usual. Today, I am telling you that we need a separate UT status for Rajouri-Poonch on the lines of Ladakh,” he said addressing workers.
Ali said that people of Rajouri-Poonch must rise to the occasion and start the fight for UT status the way Ladakhi’s did. “I am with you and we will get this status. Today, we have set a base for the UT status for Rajouri-Poonch and we will succeed in this mission,” he said. “People of Rajouri-Poonch will not allow the discrimination of Rajouri-Poonch any more.”
Ali joined BJP before the recently concluded Assembly polls but lost the seat to National Conference leader Javaid Choudhary even though the saffron party won 29 seats in Jammu region.
When contacted, BJP General Secretary (Org) Ashok Koul said that the demand for separate UT status for Rajouri-Poonch is not party’s stand. “We don’t know what BJP leader has stated. We are for keeping the flock together as is the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan: Sab ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas. We will look into what BJP leader has said,” Koul said (News Vibes of India)
