Srinagar, Sep 01:Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma on Tuesday challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to resign and seek a fresh mandate from the people if restoration of statehood is the main issue on which the National Conference government wants a public verdict.
Reacting to the National Conference's announcement of a peaceful protest outside BJP offices in Jammu and Srinagar on Wednesday over the Centre's commitments regarding restoration of statehood and other issues, Sharma said the ruling party was attempting to divert public attention from its failures on governance, employment and other election promises.
“If the National Conference has the courage, let Omar Abdullah resign and fight fresh elections only on the issue of statehood. The people of Jammu and Kashmir will show you your place,” Sharma said. Sharma said that statehood was not the sole issue on which the National Conference sought the people's mandate in the Assembly elections.
“The NC sought votes in the name of 200 units of free electricity, no smart meters, 10 kg ration, one lakh jobs and restoration of Article 370. Today, they are trying to portray statehood as the main issue simply to divert attention from their failures,” he said.
The Leader of Opposition also questioned the timing of the NC's proposed protest, alleging that it was aimed at diluting the BJP's already-announced Secretariat Gherao over the concerns of Jammu and Kashmir's unemployed youth. “Our Secretariat Gherao was announced nearly a month ago for the youth whose employment opportunities are being affected. Instead of answering questions on jobs and recruitment, the government is trying to shift the public discourse,” Sharma said.
Sharma alleged that around 25,000 job opportunities were being compromised through outsourcing and contractual arrangements, with merit and transparency being undermined. “The youth of Jammu and Kashmir deserve jobs on the basis of merit, transparency and equal opportunity. Outsourcing cannot become a backdoor mechanism to bypass merit and promote political recommendations,” he said. He further alleged that recommendations of National Conference workers were being given undue importance in the distribution of employment opportunities.
“Our protest will go ahead as scheduled. We have a constitutional and democratic right to protest as the Opposition. No political tactic can silence the voice of our youth,” Sharma asserted. Sharma said that instead of targeting the Opposition, the Omar Abdullah government should answer the people of Jammu and Kashmir on issues of employment, recruitment, outsourcing, transparency and fulfilment of election promises. “The people gave the National Conference a mandate to govern and deliver, not to divert attention through political theatrics. The BJP will continue to raise the genuine concerns of Jammu and Kashmir's youth,” he said.
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