Jammu and Kashmir Deputy CM Surinder Chaudhary accused BJP of making excuses for the delay in restoring statehood. He said that 18 months have passed since the elections, but the central government has not fulfilled its promise.
Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [भारत]July 12 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Sunday accused the BJP of making excuses to fulfill its assurance of restoring statehood and said it should give a timeline. Chaudhary told reporters that 18 months have passed since the elections but statehood has not been restored.
He said, “Yesterday from Kashmir and today from Jammu, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have united in one voice to remind the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister that you had promised us that you would restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Today, eighteen months have passed since the elections ended, but this has not happened.” He further said, “The National Conference is fulfilling its responsibility, but the BJP is making excuses. Instead of making excuses, they should speak clearly and tell us when will they restore statehood in Jammu and Kashmir?”
Jammu and Kashmir Sports Minister Satish Sharma said that restoration of statehood will not only strengthen the state but will also strengthen the nation. He said, “I believe they need to understand the pulse of the people and realize that the rights that were taken away from us should be restored. This will not only strengthen the state but will also strengthen India. This will boost the morale of the people, enabling them to face the enemy country with even more courage and strength.”
Omar Abdullah called BJP a ‘backdoor party’
Earlier today, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has repeatedly made empty promises of restoring the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a National Conference rally on the demand for statehood ahead of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ protests, the Chief Minister called the BJP a “backdoor party”, alleging that it breaks ruling parties in states where they fail to get a majority, and uses their struggles as a ‘backdoor’ to enter the state.
He said, “PM Modi has always promised that statehood for Jammu and Kashmir will be given at the appropriate time. What will be the right time? First you did delimitation. They want to get more seats through that. You (BJP) have broken so many parties. Look at Maharashtra, look at West Bengal, look at Punjab! BJP is a backdoor party. Where they cannot come to power through the front door, they try to come through the back door.”
After the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, the Center formed two union territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. In 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the move to abrogate Article 370, while not considering the question of restoration of statehood, as the Center had submitted that it would be restored in due course. (ANI)
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