Jammu
Former minister and BJP MLA from Basohli Choudhary Lal Singh on Saturday formally gave political colour to his “apolitical” outfit by announcing to field candidates for the ongoing panchayat elections.

“We will field candidates in the panchayat elections,” Lal Singh announced while appointing office-bearers of the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan, an organisation floated by him on July 22 this year.

“A majority of our candidates will emerge victorious in the panchayat elections,” he said, adding, “During the ongoing campaign to ‘restore’ dignity and honour of the ethnic Dogra minority of the state, the sangathan is receiving overwhelming response of the people.”

He said the process had already been started to select candidates for the panchayat elections across the Jammu region.“People of Jammu, irrespective of caste, creed, colour or religion, have been neglected for decades by Kashmir-centric politicians and governments but the time has changed now. The Dogras of Jammu will no more face discrimination anymore,” he asserted.