STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Chief Spokesperson of BJP Jammu & Kashmir, Sunil Sethi, along with party spokespersons Rajni Sethi, Zorawar Singh, and Parimoksh Seth, addressed a press conference today at the party office, highlighting public expectations from the upcoming Jammu & Kashmir budget to be presented in the Assembly tomorrow.
Sunil Sethi stated that this budget is being presented at a crucial time when a popular government of National Conference with Congress support is in power. He expressed serious concern over the atmosphere being deliberately created by these political parties to divide Jammu and Kashmir on the basis of religion, language, and caste, calling the situation extremely sensitive. He said that for decades, Jammu has faced systematic discrimination under successive governments led by NC and Congress. Despite this, the people of Jammu are still hopeful that the upcoming budget will provide some relief and benefits necessary for their survival.
He further added that all sections of society-youth, women, senior citizens, and workers-are expecting justice from this budget. Sunil Sethi questioned why the UT government remains completely dependent on the Union Government for funds and lacks any concrete vision for creating an Aatamnirbhar Jammu & Kashmir. He pointed out that neighboring states like Himachal Pradesh and Punjab have strengthened their economies through focused development in sectors such as horticulture, hydropower, agriculture, and industry. He stressed that Jammu & Kashmir also possesses immense potential, but the lack of political will has stalled self-reliance. Addressing the media, Rajni Sethi, BJP spokesperson, focused on the expectations of women of Jammu & Kashmir from this budget. She emphasized that women constitute nearly half of the population and empowering them is essential to build a strong society and achieve the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. She stated that women’s aspirations cannot be ignored and must be reflected clearly in budgetary provisions.
Rajni Sethi criticized the government for the poor implementation of welfare schemes, stating that although free bus services for women were announced from 1st April 2025, no woman is benefiting due to the absence of a proper roadmap. Similarly, the marriage assistance scheme has completely failed on the ground. She urged the government to take immediate corrective steps for the upliftment of women.
BJP spokesperson Zorawar Singh accused the government of betraying public trust by failing to implement promises made in its manifesto. He said that tourism and the industrial sector of Jammu have been totally neglected and that discrimination against Jammu is a consistent pattern of NC governments.
Finally, Parimoksh Seth raised serious concerns about the ignorance of youth, stating that Jammu has been sidelined in education and sports sectors, whether in student admissions or player selections. He emphasized that youth are the backbone of society and warned that continued neglect would have serious consequences. He concluded by urging the Omar Abdullah-led government to ensure justice for the people of Jammu through this budget.