JAMMU, Sep 5: Senior BJP leader and former Sarpanch Adv Devraj Sharma today termed the National Conference’s protest over restoration of statehood as a political drama aimed at diverting public attention from the government’s failures on the ground.
Sharma said that instead of addressing the genuine issues confronting different sections of society, the NC-led government was repeatedly resorting to the statehood issue as a political tool. He alleged that the government was attempting to create an emotional narrative around statehood to conceal its lack of substantial progress in governance and development.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir want effective governance, development, employment opportunities, better infrastructure and relief from their day-to-day problems. They cannot be kept engaged indefinitely with political slogans,” Sharma said.
He maintained that the NC government had been in office for nearly two years, but its performance on the ground remained, in his assessment, “quite negligible.” He questioned the government’s priorities and said that considerable time had already been lost without addressing several pressing concerns of common people.
Sharma said the NC government was “killing time in the guise of statehood” instead of concentrating on the responsibilities entrusted to it by the people through the electoral process. He added that the government should explain what concrete steps it had taken to improve the lives of ordinary citizens and fulfil the commitments made during the election campaign.
The BJP leader further said that restoration of statehood was not an issue that could be achieved through protests, political theatrics or repeated statements alone. According to him, the restoration of statehood has to be viewed in the broader context of peace, stability and prevailing conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Peace is the prerequisite for restoration of statehood. Once the situation becomes tangible and conducive, there should be no unnecessary delay in restoring statehood,” Sharma asserted.
He said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had already expressed their aspirations for peace, stability and development and expected all political parties to work constructively towards these objectives rather than engaging in divisive politics.
Sharma accused the NC of adopting what he described as “divisionary tactics” to shift the political discourse away from its governance record. He said the government should instead devote its attention to issues affecting people across regions and communities and ensure that development benefits reach every section of society without discrimination.
He also urged the NC government to focus on its election promises and present a clear account of the progress made on commitments relating to employment, development, infrastructure, public services and the welfare of citizens.
“Statehood cannot become an excuse for administrative inaction. The government has been elected to govern and deliver. It must focus on the issues of the people instead of using statehood as an eyewash,” Sharma said.
The senior BJP leader appealed to the government to utilise its remaining tenure constructively by improving governance, accelerating development projects, creating employment opportunities and resolving genuine public grievances.
He said that restoration of statehood would ultimately have to be pursued through the appropriate constitutional and democratic process and that political parties should avoid creating unnecessary divisions among the people on the issue.
Sharma concluded that the NC government should stop indulging in what he called “symbolic politics” and concentrate on delivering on the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir during the election campaign.