Questions ruling party about free electricity, promised jobs, says people being deceived, demands accountability
Jammu: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Thursday accused the ruling government of failing to deliver on employment, electricity, governance, and autonomy promises, calling the administration’s policies a “golden veil over failures”.
Speaking during the ongoing budget session, Sharma alleged that the government’s address largely repeated statements made over the past 25–26 years and offered little concrete action for the people of the Union Territory.
Challenging the government from the Assembly, he said, “Our right is to discuss in this house for the well-being of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Whether someone likes or dislikes what I say, it can be disliked. But that does not mean we will excuse the government’s failure to keep its promises.”
The LoP highlighted employment as a major concern, claiming that the government had outsourced 24,000 jobs in the last one-and-a-half years, undermining the aspirations of meritorious youth.
He criticised the handling of electricity distribution under various schemes, including the promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to economically weaker households.
“Last year, the budget speech stated that 800,000 families under AAY would get electricity. A year has passed, yet this has not been implemented. The government does not have a vision document on where these units will be delivered or how they will be funded,” he said.
Sharma raised questions over governance mechanisms, claiming that ordinary citizens were forced to navigate multiple offices to access basic services, despite the government’s assertions of being “on the ground.”
He further accused the ruling party of creating a double standard in its relationship with the Centre, pointing to historical promises regarding the restoration of Article 370 and special status provisions. “Promises have accumulated over decades, but nothing substantial has reached the people. Legally, there is no special status, and the rhetoric around it is misleading,” he said.
The BJP leader called for introspection by the government and political parties, urging transparency and accountability. “The youth, who had been promised employment and opportunities, were being cheated, and generations of residents had been misled by unfulfilled commitments,” he said.
Sharma praised the decline in youth joining militancy, stating, “For the first time in 36 years, no young person from Jammu and Kashmir became a terrorist in 2025. Every youth of Kashmir has become a friend of India. That is why the gun has been kicked.
