‘If Omar Has Courage, Resign and Seek Fresh Mandate on Statehood’: Sunil Sharma
Srinagar, Sep 1, KNT: Reacting to the National Conference’s announcement of a peaceful gherao of BJP headquarters in Srinagar and Jammu, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Tuesday said the statehood issue was being used by the ruling party to divert public attention from what he described as more pressing issues.
Sharma said statehood was not the issue on which the Omar Abdullah-led government had sought the people’s mandate in the Assembly elections.
He claimed that the government had come to power on promises concerning free electricity, jobs and ration rather than on the promise of restoration of statehood.
“If Omar Abdullah has the courage, he should resign and seek a fresh mandate from the people on the issue of statehood,” Sharma said.
The BJP leader also accused the National Conference of attempting to shift public attention away from allegations concerning the distribution of government jobs. He alleged that around 25,000 posts were being “given and distributed” among NC workers.
Sharma said the BJP’s proposed protest would go ahead as scheduled on Wednesday, September 2, and would focus on what he described as the failure to provide jobs to Jammu and Kashmir’s youth.
He termed the decision of the National Conference to hold its protest against the BJP on the same day as the BJP’s planned agitation “unfortunate”, alleging that it was intended to divert attention from issues concerning employment and alleged irregularities in recruitment.
“Our protest will go on as per schedule. We will protest tomorrow against the jobs that are not being given to the youth, and the NC’s protest on the same day is unfortunate and an attempt to divert the attention of the people from the real issues,” Sharma said.
The National Conference has announced its September 2 programme seeking accountability from the Union Government over commitments made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court, with restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees among its stated demands. [KNT]
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