R S PURA, Jun 9: Senior BJP leader and former Sarpanch Adv. Devraj Sharma on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government over its proposed legislators’ protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi seeking restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Describing the move as a “mere political drama, eyewash and diversionary tactic,” Sharma alleged that the ruling dispensation was attempting to shift public attention away from its growing list of unfulfilled promises and governance failures.
Addressing media persons, Adv. Sharma said that the National Conference government had come to power on the basis of a series of commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but even after the passage of considerable time, not a single major promise has been fulfilled. Instead of addressing pressing public concerns such as unemployment, inflation, infrastructure development, youth welfare, rural development and basic civic issues, the government has chosen to indulge in symbolic political theatrics, he remarked.“The proposed protest at Jantar Mantar is nothing but an attempt to create a false narrative and gain political mileage. It is a deliberate effort to divert the attention of the people from the government’s inability to deliver on its electoral commitments,” Sharma asserted.
The BJP leader further pointed out that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have repeatedly and unequivocally stated on several occasions that statehood to Jammu and Kashmir would be restored at an appropriate time. In view of these clear assurances from the country’s highest leadership, Sharma questioned the rationale behind organizing protests against the very government that has already committed itself to restoring statehood.
Expressing surprise over the NC government’s stance, Adv. Sharma said that the ruling party was creating an impression as though the absence of statehood was the sole obstacle preventing effective governance in Jammu and Kashmir. He observed that except for certain subjects, particularly the Home Department, the elected government already exercises authority over most administrative departments.
“People deserve to know what extraordinary changes or miracles the Omar Abdullah government claims it will achieve after statehood is restored when the majority of departments are already functioning under the elected government. If governance is lacking today, the responsibility lies with those who are in power and not with the constitutional status of the Union Territory,” he said.
Sharma accused the National Conference leadership of making lame excuses to justify its inability to provide efficient governance. He maintained that blaming the lack of statehood for every administrative shortcoming is an insult to the intelligence of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The former Sarpanch further stated that the people had voted with hopes of development, transparency, employment generation and better public services, but were now witnessing political posturing instead of tangible action on the ground. He urged the NC government to focus on governance and fulfilment of election promises rather than staging protests and indulging in what he termed “politically motivated spectacles.”
Adv. Devraj Sharma reiterated that the Bharatiya Janata Party remains committed to the welfare, development and democratic aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed confidence that the Union Government would take an appropriate decision regarding statehood restoration at the right time while continuing to ensure peace, progress and prosperity across the region.
Concluding his remarks, Sharma said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir are politically aware and would not be misled by attempts to use the statehood issue as a shield to conceal administrative shortcomings and unfulfilled promises. He urged the Omar Abdullah-led government to concentrate on delivering results rather than engaging in what he described as “futile exercises aimed at hoodwinking the public.”