Early Times Report
JAMMU, June 8: Former minister and MLA Priya Sethi, it seems, has the hangover from her minister days when she enjoyed power even though she did nothing for the Jammu district.
On June 6, Sethi demanded that the main stretch of the market from Raghunath Chowk to City Chowk and right up to Purani Mandi where Ram Mandir is located should be declared as a heritage bazaar.
What perplexes a common Jammuite is what the former minister is trying to prove by these publicity stunts.
When in power, she did nothing, and now out of the office, she is making noise for no good. "She can no more fool Jammu people. All masks are off now," said Suraj Dogra, a local resident.
He said Sethi is no different from other BJP leaders who had promised sky to the people of Jammu and bagged votes in the name of ending discrimination meted out to the Jammu region in general and the Jammu district in particular.
"Once they became part of the coalition government, all promises of these leaders proved a hoax," said Dogra. "And when out of power, these leaders go back to their old gimmick: play to the gallery by raising the issue of discrimination against Jammu."
Dogra said the issue of discrimination against Jammu is a reality, "but the concern shown by these rejected BJP leaders is false and a drama."
Another disgruntled local said that when in power, Sethi hardly cared for the people who elected her in the first place and only remembered them when she was shown the door by top BJP brass.
During her visit to Jammu city, Sethi praised Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for releasing funds for the development of Raghunath Bazaar.
This has irked many locals who term her statement as the height of political opportunism.
"In one breath she is praising Maharaja jee, and in the same breath she is heaping praises on the hater of Maharaja jee. How can you reconcile between the two? Every year on July 13, the Kashmiri politicians pay tributes to traitors of the Maharaja," said a local. |
