By Kashmir News Corner 
Jammu, Jan 24 (KNC): Ahead of the Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly beginning February 2, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold a one-day workshop for its MLAs in Jammu on Saturday to finalise its floor strategy and key public issues to be raised as the principal opposition.
Party sources told news agency Kashmir News Corner (KNC) that the workshop will be attended by BJP National General Secretary and J&K–Ladakh in-charge Tarun Chugh, former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta, J&K BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, National Secretary and MLA Dr Narinder Singh, BJP General Secretary (Organisation) Ashok Koul, Chief Whip Rajiv Jasrotia, besides other senior leaders. All 29 BJP MLAs are expected to participate.
Sources said the BJP will adopt an aggressive stance during the Assembly session, raising issues related to alleged non-fulfilment of poll promises by the government, including free electricity units, regularisation of daily wagers, free gas connections for economically weaker sections and employment opportunities for youth.
A major focus of the deliberations, sources added, will be the demand for fair and proportionate distribution of the Rs 1,430 crore Central assistance sanctioned for flood-hit areas of Jammu and Kashmir. BJP leaders have expressed concern that earlier relief allocations were extended uniformly despite Jammu bearing the brunt of last year’s flash floods, cloudbursts and landslides.
“The party will strongly press for justice to Jammu region, which suffered massive losses, and ensure funds are allocated strictly in line with the damage assessment,” sources said, adding that BJP legislators would oppose what they term as regional imbalance and discrimination.
Sources further said Tarun Chugh, during his address, is expected to highlight what the party calls governance failures over the past year and urge MLAs to raise people-centric issues forcefully in the House while adhering to the party’s core principle of “nation first.”
Confirming the development, BJP UT President Sat Sharma told KNC that party legislators would act as the voice of the people and expose the government’s shortcomings during the session. He reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir are equal regions and stressed that flood relief funds must be distributed transparently and proportionately.
“Jammu has suffered extensive damage and deserves its rightful share. BJP will not compromise on equitable development and fair allocation of resources,” Sharma said, adding that the party would continue to mobilise public opinion against policies it considers anti-people or discriminatory. (KNC)