Jammu, Aug 20: The All J&K and POJK Samaj Front today vociferously demanded that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should field a local candidate from the Poonchi Samaj for the RS Pura-Jammu South Assembly constituency in the forthcoming Assembly elections. This call was made during a press conference held in Jammu, where the Front’s spokesperson, Darshan Raina, articulated the long-standing grievances and aspirations of the Poonchi community.
Raina highlighted that the RS Pura Assembly constituency had been reserved for over 26 years, effectively marginalizing a significant portion of the population, particularly the POJK refugees of Poonchi descent. However, with the recent delimitation, the seat has now been opened to the general category, offering a long-awaited opportunity for these communities to secure political representation.
He pointed out that the Poonchi Samaj, which forms a substantial part of the RS Pura-Jammu South demographic, has historically been deprived of their rightful political voice due to the constituency’s reserved status. With assembly elections being held after a decade-long hiatus in Jammu and Kashmir, Raina emphasized the need for political parties to prioritize the Poonchi Samaj, who have remained politically disenfranchised for far too long.
“We have pinned our hopes on the Bharatiya Janata Party, which has consistently assured us of due representation in all spheres and has addressed many of the refugees’ long-pending demands. We are confident that if the BJP endorses a candidate from the Poonchi Samaj for the RS Pura-Jammu South seat, it will not only secure a resounding victory but also restore justice to our long-neglected community,” Raina asserted.
He further urged the BJP to promptly declare its candidate for the constituency, underscoring the urgency for the Poonchi Samaj and other constituents to rally behind a representative who embodies their collective aspirations. Raina expressed optimism that a Poonchi candidate would garner widespread support across the RS Pura-Jammu South constituency, fostering communal harmony and unity among all sections of society.
