Lal Singh demands trifurcation of state

Sanjay Pathak

Kathua, March 26

BJP rebel candidate Choudhary Lal Singh on Tuesday vowed to restore dignity and honour of the ethnic Dogri minority of J&K. Demanding trifurcation of J&K, he sought the Union Territory status for the Kashmir valley and Ladakh region and statehood for the Jammu region.

Addressing a rally after filing nomination papers as the candidate of the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan from the Udhampar-Kathua parliamentary constituency, Lal Singh attacked the local BJP leadership for betraying people of the region.

“Except befooling people of the Jammu region, local BJP leaders have done nothing to resolve local problems,” Lal Singh amid raising of slogans. He reminded the gathering that the BJP had promised to remove Articles 370 and 35A but nothing had been done so far. “It is high time to teach a lesson to those who have befooled people for years together,” he said while launching a direct attack on the BJP nominee Jitendra Singh, who is seeking re-election from the prestigious seat.

He regretted that Jitendra had virtually abandoned the constituency after his induction as a minister in the Central government. He said the Union minister preferred to stay either in Jammu or Delhi.

Earlier, Lal Singh took out a rally from Londi Morh in Hiranagar to Kathua after covering nearly 40 km.

Meanwhile, Returning Officer Rohit Khajuria said 10 nominations were filed on the last date of filing of papers on Tuesday.