The Shiv Sena (UBT) has criticized the Narendra Modi government, stating that its assertion that the abrogation of Article 370 would lead to an improvement in the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has proven false. In an editorial published in its party mouthpiece ‘Saamana,’ the Shiv Sena expressed concern over the recent killing of security personnel in Kashmir and the ongoing instability in the region, contrasting it with the government’s
optimism.
The editorial highlighted that despite more than four years passing since the abrogation of Article 370, special provisions that granted Jammu and Kashmir its unique status, assembly elections in the Valley have not taken place. The party criticized the government’s reluctance to hold elections out of fear of potential losses, describing it as a betrayal of the people.
Furthermore, the editorial challenged the government’s claims made during the Article 370 abrogation that it would lead to the return of Kashmiri Pandits, the establishment of new industries, and the creation of job opportunities in the Valley, asserting that none of these promises have materialized. The Shiv Sena questioned the achievements of the BJP government in scrapping Article 370 and making Ladakh a separate union territory, stating that the government has failed in various aspects, including reclaiming land in Ladakh, protecting Kashmiri Pandits, preventing soldier casualties and infiltration, and pacifying the minds of Kashmiris.