Jammu, Oct 1: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra Thursday hit back at Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, saying his claim that the Omar Abdullah Government had failed on all fronts was nothing more than a political smokescreen to hide the BJP’s own failure to answer the people on the restoration of statehood.
As per a statement issued, he was addressing National Conference Workers of 14 Municipal Corporation Wards of Jammu North Assembly Constituency at Roop Nagar. The meeting was organised by Sandeep Singh Manhas Incharge 14 Wards.
Sadhotra said Sharma should first explain why the BJP, which repeatedly claims to support restoration of statehood, created a ruckus when the elected Assembly actually passed a resolution demanding its restoration. “The Leader of Opposition has no answer to a simple question: if BJP supports statehood, why did its members oppose the Assembly resolution seeking its restoration? Is raising slogans and disrupting the House the BJP’s idea of supporting statehood?” Sadhotra asked.
He said Sharma’s allegation that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had sabotaged statehood by referring to earlier Assembly resolutions was a deliberate distortion of the proceedings.
The resolution sought restoration of full statehood and referred to earlier resolutions as part of the political and constitutional history of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The BJP cannot rewrite history to suit its political convenience. The 2000 and 2024 resolutions are part of the record of the elected legislature. Referring to them does not mean that the present Assembly has surrendered its constitutional position or stepped outside the Constitution of India,” Sadhotra said.
He accused Sharma of trying to convert a legitimate democratic demand into a controversy because the BJP was uncomfortable with the Assembly speaking with one voice on statehood.
“Statehood is not a favour to be distributed by Delhi or a slogan to be used during elections. It concerns the dignity, rights and constitutional position of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The elected Assembly has every democratic right to articulate that demand,” he said. Taking strong exception to Sharma’s description of the Autumn Session as “unfortunate”, Sadhotra said the LoP appeared to have mistaken disruption for performance.
“The session was unfortunate only for those who came prepared to create noise instead of participating in debate. The record of the House is there for everyone to see. The Government faced questions, responded to issues and carried legislative business, while the BJP repeatedly chose confrontation over constructive participation,” he said. Sadhotra came down heavily on the LoP’s attempt to portray every discussion in the Assembly as a failure of governance. “If everything is a failure, why did the BJP spend the entire session protesting instead of presenting a credible alternative roadmap? Opposition is not merely about shouting ‘failed government’. It is about scrutiny, facts and solutions,” Sadhotra said.
