Examiner Bureau | Anantnag:
Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging that the government lacks the authority and strength to deliver on its promises and should resign rather than continue for five years.
Addressing reporters during a visit to South Kashmir, Sharma said the government repeatedly cites lack of powers and authority whenever questioned about its performance.
“Do we have to wait for five years for them to say that they do not have the power?” Sharma said, arguing that two years of the government’s tenure had already demonstrated what he described as its limitations.
He questioned the justification for continuing the government if it believed it could not deliver, saying public money should not be spent merely to maintain an administration that claims it lacks the necessary powers.
Sharma also argued that restoration of statehood would require elections under a new constitutional arrangement and questioned why the present government should continue until then.
“If we get the state tomorrow, then there will be an election again because we have to get the state with the new constitutional arrangement,” he said, calling for the Assembly to be dissolved.
The BJP leader also accused Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather of favouring the government by keeping the ongoing Assembly session short.
Sharma alleged that the shortened session would limit legislators’ ability to raise public issues. The Speaker has defended the session schedule, pointing to shorter legislative sessions in several BJP-ruled states.
Responding to Omar Abdullah’s allegation that the BJP wants to bring down his government, Sharma categorically denied any such plan.
“We will never topple it. I promise you that the BJP will never topple it,” he said, adding that if the government fell on its own, the BJP should not be held responsible.
Sharma said the BJP would instead use the Assembly session to raise issues concerning the public, particularly the demand for restoration of statehood.
Comparing J&K with states such as Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan, Sharma alleged that the Union Territory was lagging in areas including staffing in schools and hospitals and employment.
At the same time, he defended the Centre’s record over the past decade, claiming that development during the period had been unprecedented.
“There is no need for CM Omar’s certificate in it,” Sharma said.
Sharma’s remarks come amid an intensifying political debate between the ruling National Conference and BJP over governance, statehood and the duration of the Assembly session.
