Says “Statehood BJP’s agenda, not NC’s, Omar Govt failing on all fronts, present arrangement ensured peace”
Srinagar : BJP leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma on Saturday criticized Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, claiming his push for statehood is motivated by personal interests rather than public welfare.
Talking to reporters here Sharma said “The issue of statehood had always been the BJP’s agenda and not that of the National Conference (NC).” He further alleged, “Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is seeking restoration of statehood because the Abdullah family’s royal lifestyle had been affected after the constitutional changes of August 2019 and that the demand is not for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Clarifying his party’s stance, the LoP added, “We have made that commitment and we will restore statehood at the appropriate time,” emphasizing that the assurance was made to the public, not the ruling family.
Sharma accused the NC of using the issue to mask governance failures and unmet election promises regarding basic amenities. “The Abdullah family had been entrusted with power by the people for generations, but the present government has failed to fulfil the promises it made before the 2024 Assembly elections,” he said. He added, “The promises made before the elections have been forgotten. After failing on every front, the Abdullah family has once again chosen to mislead the people by shifting the debate to statehood,” noting that citizens still struggle for basic infrastructure.
Defending the Central government’s control over regional security, Sharma highlighted a drop in local terror recruitment and civilian casualties. He warned, “Law and order should remain with the Centre until terrorism is completely eradicated and the security situation stabilises further,” concluding that the restoration of statehood remains a BJP commitment to be fulfilled based on national interest and security conditions.
