Uddhav Thackeray assures support, vows to raise demands from Parliament to the streets
MUMBAI, Oct 21: A delegation of senior leaders of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), led by Manish Sahni, President of the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit, met party chief Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray in Mumbai and held detailed discussions on three key issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir: restoration of statehood, the safe and dignified return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley, and justice for displaced persons from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK).
Uddhav Thackeray listened to the concerns and assured the delegation that these issues would be raised effectively at the national level, from Parliament to the streets.
Manish Sahni said that the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and the subsequent withdrawal of its statehood had significantly affected the democratic rights and political aspirations of its people. He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been waiting for the restoration of full statehood for years, stressing that it was not merely an administrative issue but a matter of democratic rights, dignity and self-respect.
Sahni also raised the issue of the safe, dignified and permanent return of Kashmiri Pandits, who have endured nearly 37 years of displacement. He emphasised that a secure environment, restoration of trust and dignified rehabilitation were essential to ensure that displaced families could return to their homes with confidence and security.
During the meeting, Sahni handed over a memorandum to Uddhav Thackeray on behalf of Rajiv Chunni, Chairman of SOS International, highlighting the problems and long-pending demands of PoJK displaced families.
The memorandum sought implementation of the comprehensive relief package approved in October 2014, enforcement of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, facilities at par with those extended to Kashmiri Pandit migrants, and provision for eight seats for displaced persons in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Other demands included extending the relief package to 5,300 displaced families living outside Jammu and Kashmir, permission to visit religious sites in PoJK, and the return of deposits held with Mirpur Bank along with interest.
Sahni said a comprehensive national initiative was necessary to address Jammu and Kashmir’s future, safeguard the rights of displaced communities and resolve issues that had remained pending for decades. Welcoming Uddhav Thackeray’s assurance, he said Shiv Sena (UBT) was committed to ensuring that these vital concerns of the people of Jammu and Kashmir received due prominence in the national discourse.
Party Yuva Sena National President Aaditya Thackeray, MP Arvind Sawant and Sanjay Bhatt from the Jammu and Kashmir unit were also present during the meeting.