Rejecting the proposal of the ruling National Conference (NC) to jointly organise a protest at Jantar Mantar on the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, the opposition BJP on Wednesday termed the ruling party’s statehood campaign an “eyewash” aimed at misleading the people.
The Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and BJP MLA from Padder-Nagseni, Sunil Sharma, said that the restoration of statehood is the BJP’s commitment, but the process would be guided by the security situation on the ground.
Interacting with media persons in Srinagar, Sharma observed that the ruling National Conference had failed to fulfil the promises it made to the people during the 2024 Assembly elections.
“The proposed protest by the National Conference at Jantar Mantar is nothing but an attempt to hide the failures of the ruling party,” Sharma said.
He also claimed that the National Conference-led government was facing internal contradictions and lacked stability.
“The ruling coalition is unstable and does not have the cohesion required to govern effectively. It will collapse because of its own weaknesses. The BJP will neither topple it nor seek to form an alternative government,” he said.
“People are demanding uninterrupted electricity and potable water, but the government has failed to provide these basic amenities to the masses,” he said, adding, “There is rampant corruption, and it is impossible to get work done without it.”
The BJP leader further said that, unlike in other states where chief ministers meet people and conduct public outreach programmes, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah meets only legislators of his own party.
NC Announces Protest on First Day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session
As reported earlier, the National Conference on June 3 announced that it would hold a protest in New Delhi on the first day of Parliament’s upcoming Monsoon Session, demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and constitutional guarantees.
The decision was taken during a crucial meeting of the party leadership, ministers, and legislators chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at Dachigam National Park.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the party’s chief spokesperson and MLA, Tanvir Sadiq, said the National Conference Legislature Party had held detailed discussions on political and developmental issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the party would stage a protest at Jantar Mantar or another designated venue in Delhi on the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
“The National Conference has decided that on the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, we will hold a protest in Delhi demanding the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees,” Sadiq said.
He emphasised that the restoration of statehood remains the party’s “core and rightful demand”, describing it as a constitutional guarantee for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The time has now come to reclaim what has been taken away from us,” he added.
On Monday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made it clear that his party would go ahead with its planned protest at Jantar Mantar on the first day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session to press for the restoration of statehood.
“We have resolved to stage a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi at the beginning of the Monsoon Session of Parliament for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. There is no change in our plan. We will go to Delhi and present our views at Jantar Mantar for a day,” Omar Abdullah told reporters in Srinagar.
He said National Conference MLAs, MPs, and other senior leaders would participate in the protest.
“We firmly intend to remind the government, at the beginning of the monsoon session, about the promise made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir regarding the restoration of statehood—a promise made in the Supreme Court, Parliament, and at several public functions,” he said.
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