Udhampur, January 15, 2026: Tensions flared at the busy Venus Chowk in Udhampur today as senior leader Pawan Khajuria, accompanied by prominent activists, led a massive protest against the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s alleged “anti-people” policies.
Demonstrators expressed their deep-seated resentment by burning an effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, accusing the current government of failing to deliver on its electoral promises and neglecting the Jammu division.
Addressing the gathering, Pawan Khajuria stated that the residents of Jammu feel betrayed by the government’s administrative failures and the non-fulfillment of manifesto commitments, such as free electricity and equitable development.
He highlighted a critical lack of employment opportunities, forcing local youth to migrate to other states, and decried the “pathetic state” of healthcare services. Khajuria further criticized the government for failing to restore drinking water supplies in rain-hit areas and slammed the Chief Minister for allegedly promoting regional bias, emphasizing that a leader must represent the entire Union Territory rather than a single division.
The protesters demanded a special development package for Jammu and urged elected representatives to voice their concerns against the government’s perceived discriminatory stance.
