J&K Statehood Promise Stands, but Peace Must Come First: BJP

Srinagar: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Wednesday said the restoration of statehood remains a firm commitment of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but added that the timing of the move would be guided by the security situation and the Centre’s assessment of peace on the ground.

Addressing a press conference here, Sharma said the promise of statehood would be honoured, but only after the Union government is satisfied that violence, public disorder and instability have become things of the past.

“Statehood is our commitment and it will be fulfilled,” Sharma said, while stressing that lasting peace and stability remain the Centre’s foremost priorities in J&K.

He said the Centre wants a situation where violence and public disorder no longer define the region’s political or social environment, adding that the restoration process would move forward in line with ground realities.

Turning his attention to the Omar Abdullah-led government, Sharma alleged that the ruling coalition was struggling with internal contradictions and lacked the cohesion required to govern effectively.

He claimed the government would not complete its term, asserting that it would “collapse on its own” because of what he described as political instability within the alliance.

“The ruling coalition is unstable and lacks cohesion. It will fall because of its own weaknesses. The BJP will neither topple it nor form an alternative government,” Sharma said.

Taking a swipe at the Chief Minister, Sharma described some of his recent statements as irresponsible and said Abdullah should act with the maturity and responsibility expected of his office.

He also referred to the recent meeting of National Conference (NC) legislators in Dachigam National Park here, claiming it reflected concerns within the ruling party over its internal unity and support base.

According to Sharma, the meeting appeared to be an attempt to assess support within the party. He alleged that it was driven by uncertainty in the NC leadership over the stability of its own ranks.

Sharma further accused the NC leadership of prioritising power and privileges, alleging that its position on statehood was shaped more by political convenience than by public interest.

“The Abdullahs are power-hungry. They will compromise on full statehood as long as their protocol and privileges remain intact,” he alleged.

Dismissing opposition unity efforts as “drama” and “childish politics,” Sharma said political narratives in Kashmir were being manufactured to mislead the public.

He also accused the NC and its ally Congress of shielding illegal land grabbers and communalising the encroachment issue, saying such politics diverted attention from governance and accountability.

Reiterating the BJP’s position, Sharma said the party, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, remained focused on ensuring peace, progress and transparency in J&K.

Sharma said the 12 years of the Modi-led NDA government have been marked by transparency, development, public welfare and national transformation. As the media interaction coincided with the BJP’s “12 Saal Vishwas Ke” campaign, Sharma said the Modi government had set new benchmarks in governance, infrastructure, welfare delivery and corruption-free administration since 2014.

He claimed that before 2014, the country was widely associated with scams and corruption, citing the 2G spectrum case, Commonwealth Games scam and coal block allocations, while asserting that no corruption allegation had been established against the Union government during the past 12 years.

He said India’s global standing had improved significantly under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, adding that Indians today carry a renewed sense of pride and confidence across the world.

Highlighting infrastructure development, the Leader of Opposition said the country had witnessed major expansion in road networks, railway connectivity and airport infrastructure. He described the railway connectivity to J&K through Vande Bharat trains as a historic achievement for the region.

He further said the number of airports in the country had increased substantially over the last decade, while India had successfully managed the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured free ration support to nearly 81 crore people.

Sharma said several central welfare schemes had directly benefited people in J&K, including Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Awas Yojana and Swachh Bharat Mission.

He claimed that every family in J&K had benefited from health insurance coverage under Ayushman Bharat, while nearly 12 lakh households received LPG connections under the Ujjwala scheme.

The BJP leader also highlighted India’s digital transformation, saying the country had emerged as a global leader in digital transactions and financial inclusion through technology-driven governance.

Referring to housing and sanitation initiatives, Sharma said lakhs of beneficiaries in J&K had received assistance under PM Awas Yojana, while household sanitation facilities were expanded through the Swachh Bharat Mission.

He said special emphasis had also been laid on women empowerment through various schemes, including Ladli Beti and Self Help Group initiatives, which he said had helped women gain greater social and economic support.

Sharma said the security situation in J&K had improved significantly compared to the pre-2014 period, claiming that shutdowns, stone-pelting incidents and fear among citizens had largely reduced.

He said parents were now sending their children to schools and colleges with greater confidence, while people were able to conduct their daily activities with fewer disruptions.

He stated that youth in J&K were increasingly focusing on education, employment and entrepreneurship instead of unrest, adding that peace and stability had opened new avenues for growth.

While praising the Union government’s role in creating a more secure environment, Sharma said the responsibility of generating employment and ensuring effective governance now rests with the elected government in J&K.

He accused the present J&K government of failing to effectively implement centrally sponsored schemes despite receiving substantial financial assistance from the Centre.

Sharma said the Union government had sanctioned thousands of crores of rupees for roads, irrigation, housing, tourism, agriculture and other sectors in J&K, and urged the UT government to ensure timely execution of projects.

The BJP leader further said Modi had become the longest-serving elected Prime Minister of India, surpassing the tenure record of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

He said the BJP remains committed to public welfare and development and will continue working for the progress and prosperity of J&K and the country.