Examiner Bureau | Jammu:
Hundreds of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers took to the streets in Jammu on Monday, mounting a strong protest against the National Conference-led Jammu and Kashmir government and accusing it of failing to fulfil its election promises and address pressing issues such as unemployment, development and basic civic amenities.
The demonstration was led by J&K BJP president Sat Sharma, Member of Parliament Jugal Kishore Sharma and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly Sunil Sharma. BJP workers carrying party flags and placards gathered at Dogra Chowk, Maheshpura and Panjtirthi before marching separately towards the Civil Secretariat through Shalimar Road.
The protesters raised slogans against the National Conference-Congress alliance and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging corruption, administrative failures and poor governance.
Police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in large numbers along the protest routes and around the Civil Secretariat to maintain law and order. BJP Mahila Morcha workers also participated in the demonstration.
Addressing the protesters, Sat Sharma alleged that the National Conference had secured power after making several promises to the people but had failed to deliver on them.
“Thousands of BJP workers, MPs, legislators and common people are on the roads to express their anger against the NC-led government,” he said.
Sharma argued that the government was focusing heavily on the demand for restoration of statehood instead of addressing issues affecting people on a daily basis.
He alleged that the statehood issue was being used to divert public attention from the government’s performance.
“They know that people will question them,” Sharma said, referring to the National Conference’s electoral performance and recent political developments.
He also criticised the NC-Congress alliance, alleging that the Congress had shown insufficient respect for national symbols.
The BJP president said his party wanted the government to function effectively but would not hesitate to intensify its campaign if public grievances remained unresolved.
He said the BJP would continue to act as a constructive opposition, while warning that future protests would be organised at the district, town and local levels.
The demonstration marked a significant escalation in the BJP’s street-level campaign against the Omar Abdullah-led government, with the party seeking to portray itself as the principal opposition voice challenging the administration’s record.
BJP MP Jugal Kishore Sharma accused the government of failing to address basic problems confronting the public.
He alleged that people continued to face deficiencies in essential civic services, including roads, electricity and drinking water, despite repeated assurances from the government.
Jugal Kishore Sharma claimed that the administration had lost public confidence and called upon the government to take responsibility for what he described as its failures.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma launched a sharp attack on the National Conference government, alleging large-scale corruption, administrative shortcomings and poor governance.
He said the BJP had initially sought to function as a constructive opposition but was being forced to take its campaign to the streets because, according to him, the government had failed to respond adequately to public concerns.
The opposition leader’s remarks reflected the BJP’s broader strategy of combining legislative criticism with street protests to put pressure on the ruling National Conference.
BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma said the party would continue to hold the government accountable both inside and outside the Assembly.
“The government will be held accountable from the floor of the Assembly to the streets,” he said, while also alleging discrimination against the people of the Jammu region.
MLA Vikram Randhawa also criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging that the government was more focused on protocol and political posturing than resolving the problems confronting ordinary citizens.
BJP Mahila Morcha president Neha Mahajan focused on employment opportunities for young people, measures to address unemployment and commitments made by the government towards women.
She questioned the administration over what the BJP described as inadequate progress on employment and welfare-related promises.
Unemployment has emerged as one of the major political issues in Jammu and Kashmir, with both ruling and opposition parties seeking to position themselves as advocates for the region’s large population of young job seekers.
BJP leaders also questioned the National Conference government’s continued emphasis on restoration of statehood, arguing that the Centre has already indicated that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time.
The party accused the Omar Abdullah government of using the issue to divert attention from governance-related shortcomings and unmet electoral commitments.
The National Conference, however, has consistently maintained that restoration of full statehood remains a major political and constitutional priority for Jammu and Kashmir.
With the BJP now signalling further protests across Jammu and Kashmir, Monday’s demonstration could mark the beginning of a more sustained confrontation between the ruling National Conference-led administration and the principal opposition party on issues ranging from employment and development to governance, statehood and regional concerns.
