SRINAGAR — BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Tuesday accused the National Conference of using the statehood issue to divert public attention from what he described as more pressing concerns, including employment.
Sharma was reacting to the NC’s announcement that it would peacefully gherao BJP headquarters in Srinagar and Jammu on Wednesday, September 2, over demands including restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees.
He said statehood was not the issue on which the Omar Abdullah-led government had sought the people’s mandate in the Assembly elections.
Sharma claimed the government had come to power on promises concerning free electricity, jobs and ration rather than on 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 and would focus on what he described as the failure to provide jobs to Jammu and Kashmir’s youth.
He termed the NC’s decision 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 said its September 2 programme is aimed at 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.
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