Srinagar, Sep 25: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday said restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir was a public demand and not an issue confined to the National Conference (NC) or Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government.
Reacting to the uproar created by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members in the Legislative Assembly over the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seeking restoration of full statehood, Choudhary said the BJP should have participated in a debate instead of creating a ruckus.
“This resolution is nothing new,” Choudhary told reporters here.
He said the Government of India had promised to the people of Jammu and Kashmir that after delimitation and elections, statehood would be restored.
“But two years have passed and the promise of statehood restoration is yet to be fulfilled,” the Deputy CM said.
He said the resolution was moved in the Assembly to remind the Centre that the promise they made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir was delimitation, election, and then statehood.
“It has been two years, but the BJP has not kept its promise,” he said.
Choudhary said the NC and the J&K government considered it their responsibility to pursue the promise made in the party’s manifesto to fight for restoration of the “lost state” after the elections.
“Today, we have the same resolution in front of them again for discussion,” he said, adding that the government wanted to bring the BJP’s position before the people.
The Deputy CM said BJP leaders speak outside the Assembly about the interests, problems, and difficulties of the people, but their position becomes different when the issue of statehood is taken up in the House.
“The lost identity of J&K, the status of this state, our special status, this is not the demand of the NC or Omar Abdullah’s government. It is the demand of the people of J&K,” he said.
Choudhary said people across J&K were demanding restoration of what they consider their “lost identity”.
“Whenever you go somewhere and talk to people, people say, ‘we should get our lost identity back,’” he said.
Referring to Maharaja Hari Singh, the Deputy CM accused the BJP of invoking his legacy but “forgetting” him when the question of restoring statehood and special status arises.
“When we talk about getting statehood back and getting back the special status, then the BJP forgets Maharaja Hari Singh,” he said.
Choudhary said the government wanted a discussion in the Assembly on whether the people of J&K should get their state and special status back.
“Let us have a discussion. Do you (BJP) want to get the state back for the people of Jammu and Kashmir or not? Do they (BJP) want to get the special status of J&K back or not?” he said.
The Deputy CM said that restoration of special status was important claiming that otherwise people from outside could take away land and employment opportunities of local youth.
“Because until we get our special status back, people from outside will take away our land. They will also take away our children’s employment,” he said.
Choudhary said that instead of participating in a debate, BJP members created a ruckus in the House.
“So today, instead of having a discussion about the topic, BJP created a ruckus,” he said.
The Deputy CM also criticised the conduct of BJP members during the Assembly proceedings, referring to their slogans, whistles, and gestures as inappropriate.
“Look at their slogans, their style of whistling. It is very dangerous. And look at the way they are pointing their fingers,” he said.
Choudhary alleged that the BJP’s conduct also prevented the government from discussing other pressing issues, including the flood situation in PirPanjal region.
He alleged that the BJP’s conduct in the Assembly reflected a lack of concern for the people of J&K.
“We can see that the BJP is not sympathetic to the people of J&K,” the Deputy CM said.
He challenged BJP leaders, particularly the Leader of Opposition, to explain their position to the people.
“You should ask the BJP MLAs, particularly the LOP about their stand,” Choudhary.
He said that the “real face” of the BJP was opposing the interests of the people of J&K.
