‘If every answer is statehood, dissolve this setup’: LoP Sunil Sharma

Srinagar| Sept, 21: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma on Monday accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of failing to address unemployment, basic amenities and the grievances of various sections of society.
Speaking to reporters on the first day of the Assembly’s autumn session, Sharma said people across Jammu and Kashmir had high expectations from the elected government, particularly those who had been waiting for years for their demands to be addressed.
He alleged that the government had failed to adequately address issues related to electricity and water supply and claimed that governance had fallen short on several fronts.
“After two years, a single word comes out of the mouth of the head of this government — we do not have the power, we cannot do anything,” Sharma said.
He also raised the concerns of National Health Mission (NHM) employees, ASHA and Anganwadi workers and JKSSB aspirants, besides alleging that corruption remained a major concern.
Sharma said the grievances of around 70,000 cooperative bank depositors were yet to be resolved. He claimed that an earlier assurance that their payments would be released within two months had not been fulfilled.
“The biggest deception, I believe, is with the youth,” Sharma said, referring to unemployment as one of the major concerns facing Jammu and Kashmir.
He also questioned the government’s policy on outsourcing appointments, calling for greater transparency in the recruitment process.
“We have no complaint about outsourcing. But outsourcing will not happen like this. There should be transparency, a recruitment mechanism and fixed criteria,” he said.
Sharma claimed that around 25,000 people had been engaged through outsourcing and alleged that such appointments could affect future recruitment opportunities.
The Leader of Opposition said the BJP, as the principal Opposition party, would raise these issues during the Assembly session and seek responses from the government.
“If the answer to every question is statehood, then dissolve this whole setup and wait for statehood,” Sharma said, referring to what he described as the government’s response to issues raised by the Opposition.
He said the BJP would raise the concerns of different sections of society in the House and questioned what he described as attempts to shift the focus from immediate public issues.
On the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Sharma said the BJP would examine the report in detail and raise the matter in the Assembly.
He alleged that several JJM schemes had become defunct despite substantial funds being provided by the Union government.
“There are big flaws in this report too. We will study it thoroughly and talk about it,” he said.
Sharma said the Opposition would raise issues concerning NHM employees, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, JKSSB aspirants, outsourcing, alleged corruption, panchayat-related matters, power tariffs, salaries of GRS and technical staff, KEMPA employees and the JJM report during the ongoing Assembly session.