Jammu, Jun 27: National Conference (NC) Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of betrayal on the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. He termed the statehood a matter of grave importance that transcends party lines, religious beliefs, regional identities, and caste divisions.
In a statement issued here, Sadhotra said the prolonged denial of political rights to the people of Jammu and Kashmir has significantly undermined the region’s development, hindered economic progress, and diluted the sense of political empowerment among “politically sagacious” and “self-respecting” people in this part of the country.
“The BJP can no longer hide behind vague statements made in Parliament. It must walk the talk. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve clarity and commitment, not empty assurances,” the NC leader said. He reminded the central government of the solemn affirmation it had made before the Supreme Court regarding the eventual restoration of statehood to the Union Territory.
“The oft-repeated rhetoric of restoring statehood at an ‘appropriate time’ cannot remain an open-ended phrase. The government must come out with a definitive time frame,” he said, adding this will be respecting the mandate given by people during the elections to the Legislative Assembly in 2024.
Accusing the BJP of habitual political betrayal, Sadhotra said, “Betrayal runs deep in the DNA of the BJP. Walking back from promises made to the people, whether in Parliament, courts, or public platforms, reflects the party’s deceptive politics.”
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have not forgotten the assurances made post the abrogation of Article 370, which included a categorical commitment to restore full Statehood.
The former minister took a sharp dig at the J&K BJP leadership, alleging that they have remained mute spectators and complicit in the denial of democratic rights to the people. “Instead of standing with the people of this region, the Pradesh BJP has acted as a conniving force in robbing them of their dignity and rights,” he said, adding their silence is a “big betrayal” of the trust of the people who voted for them in Jammu.
The NC Additional General Secretary said that disempowerment is going to do irreparable damage to J&K. “The youth are disillusioned, economic opportunities are shrinking, and alienation is growing. Only a time-bound commitment to restoring statehood can begin to heal the democratic deficit inflicted on this land,” he said.
Sadhotra welcomed the assertion of NC president, Dr Farooq Abdullah that if the Centre fails in restoring the statehood, the party will approach the Supreme Court for justice to the people.
