Srinagar, Sep 28: Alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) betrayed the people of Jammu by opposing the resolution on restoration of statehood to J&K, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday said the party’s stand on the issue stood exposed during the Assembly proceedings.
Talking to reporters here Choudhary said the government had brought the resolution to remind the Centre of its commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“BJP’s reality got exposed today. Ask those who were chanting ‘Statehood ke dushman murdabad, murdabad’ who is against statehood. We brought the resolution and reminded the Centre of its promises,” he said.
He said the promises made regarding restoration of statehood had not been fulfilled even after two years and claimed that the delay was affecting governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
“If BJP had doubts, they should have asked through the mikes. They have allotted seats and there is democracy. Their doubts could have been cleared through discussion, as the discussion was already mentioned in the business by the Speaker,” Choudhary said.
Questioning the BJP over the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, he asked whether anyone had been consulted when the erstwhile state was downgraded.
“When the state was downgraded in Parliament, was someone asked? Was the Constitution followed? BJP should answer this,” he said.
Dy CM also said the BJP would have to answer to the people in 2029 over its position on statehood.
“What BJP did today, they will face it in 2029. The people of Jammu are also now regretting why they elected them, as they are betraying them,” he said.
On governance, the Deputy Chief Minister said several institutions, including universities and the cultural academy, were outside the direct control of the Chief Minister, which he cited as an example of the limitations under the present arrangement.
“The Chief Minister himself is the Law Minister, yet the Chief Secretary and Law Secretary are writing letters to the Speaker asking him not to allow the discussion. What else can we put as an example of why we demand statehood?” he said.
Responding to Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma’s repeated reference to Omar Abdullah as “Shehzada”, Choudhary said the Chief Minister was seeking restoration of statehood for the entire region.
“I want to tell the Kishtwar Shehzada that the Chief Minister is demanding statehood for you as well, besides the people of Jammu and Kashmir, so that we can take our decisions ourselves and people get empowered to secure their rights through the Assembly,” he said.
Choudhary said the day’s proceedings had made it clear to the public where different political parties stood on the statehood issue.
“After the Chief Minister’s address in the House today, the media also got to know what is inside and outside and who is the enemy of statehood, whether it is the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government or the BJP which does not want Jammu and Kashmir to get statehood,” he said—(KNO)
