Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma on Saturday reiterated that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led J&K government would not complete its full term.
“I’ll not talk about (NC) MPs only. With all sincerity and great sense of responsibility, I want to assert that the National Conference, currently, is a disintegrated party. It is in complete disarray. For the past two years, it has not been able to fill three vacancies in the cabinet. Only five ministers are running the government. With full conviction, I reiterate that all is not well within the (NC-Congress) government and within the party (NC),” he maintained, while responding to media queries, after his public outreach programme in Reasi and Udhampur districts.
He prophesied that the day the government would expand its cabinet, it would collapse like a pack of cards as there was great resentment brewing among NC MLAs.
“I’ve reiterated it a number of times and I assert yet again that this party will disintegrate very soon. Present J&K government will not last long,” LoP stated.
He also expressed concern over eight-hour long power curtailment in Reasi district.
With regard to NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah’s statement about Panchayat elections, Sunil Sharma alleged that it manifested a double standard of NC leadership.
“This is nothing but ‘Dadagiri’ (bullying attitude) of Abdullah family. When they had to become the Chief Minister, they would reiterate demand for elections ten times a day; they would rue delay in conduct of polls. But now when it is the question of grass-root democracy giving power to common people through Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies’ polls, they (NC leaders) are showing their true face,” LoP alleged.
LoP was accompanied by MLAs Pawan Gupta, Adv. R.S. Pathania, Baldev Raj Sharma, Balwant Singh Mankotia, and Kuldeep Dubey during the party’s extensive public outreach programme in Reasi and Udhampur.
They interacted with delegations representing different sections of society, including the Baridar Sewa Committee, PHE casual labourers, PHE daily wagers, Chamber of Trade, Tourism and Industry Katra, PHE Union, NHM employees, Teachers’ Association, Beopar Mandal, Mazdoor Sangh, Safai Karamcharis and Village Defence Guards (VDGs).
Sunil Sharma gave a patient hearing to the delegations and assured them that their genuine concerns would be taken up at the appropriate forums, including the forthcoming assembly session. He directed the concerned department representatives to pursue the issues and assured the delegations that the BJP legislators would strongly pursue their legitimate demands until they receive a concrete response.
Sunil Sharma, addressing on the occasion, said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had voted for change, development, employment, accountability and better governance, but the National Conference government had so far failed to live up to the expectations of the people. He said employees waiting for regularization, daily wagers seeking justice, NHM workers demanding security, teachers and labourers seeking relief, traders and the tourism sector seeking support and VDGs safeguarding vulnerable areas could not be made to wait indefinitely for solutions.
“The people did not vote for excuses, political rhetoric or endless assurances. They voted for governance that listens, responds and delivers. If the government continues to ignore genuine public issues, the BJP will confront it firmly and place every legitimate demand before the Assembly and the people,” Sharma said.
LoP said the BJP would not allow the concerns of any section to be pushed aside for political convenience. We are here to listen to the people and fight for their rights. Every grievance brought before us will be pursued with seriousness and determination, he added.
Sunil Sharma asserted that the BJP’s public outreach was not a formality but a sustained political commitment to remain connected with the people.
He said BJP legislators would continue to reach every constituency, listen directly to citizens and raise their issues at the highest appropriate forums.
“BJP stands firmly with the people of Jammu & Kashmir. Their voices will be heard, their concerns will be raised and their legitimate rights will be fought for inside and outside the Assembly,” he said.
