Examiner Bureau | Srinagar, Feb 21:
Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Saturday accused the ruling Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) of failing the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, alleging lack of transparency and governance lapses, particularly in matters related to employment.
Addressing the BJP’s Mega Joining Programme at SKICC in Srinagar, Sharma claimed that the NC had misled voters during the 2024 Assembly elections by promising restoration of Article 370. He said that Article 370 “is history” and would not be reinstated.
He also questioned the party’s repeated reference to “special status,” stating that the term has no constitutional basis in the manner projected by the NC. Sharma said he had challenged the government in the Assembly to clarify its stand on the issue.
Criticising the Abdullah family, he alleged political double standards, claiming that while NC leaders criticise the BJP publicly, they have in the past aligned with it for political reasons. He urged the people to examine what he termed as contradictions in the party’s political stance.
On the employment front, Sharma alleged that the government had outsourced nearly 24,000 posts to a private company instead of filling them through a transparent recruitment process. He claimed that the posts were handed over without open advertisements, written examinations or interviews, thereby denying opportunities to eligible candidates.
“Thousands of families invest in their children’s education with the hope of securing government jobs. Sidestepping due recruitment procedures is unfair to the youth,” Sharma said. He warned that the BJP would protest if the decision was not reconsidered.
He demanded that the government make public the details of the company involved and the recruitment process adopted, adding that the BJP would raise the issue both inside the Assembly and on the streets across Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharma also criticised the government over its promise of providing 200 units of free electricity, alleging that the benefit was being linked to central schemes instead of being implemented as an independent commitment.
The event also saw several political workers joining the BJP in the presence of senior party leaders.
