Jammu, Mar 02: In a strong rebuttal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks on the concept of a shadow government, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dr Abhijeet Jasrotia has firmly defended the necessity of a robust opposition in a democracy. He said the opposition has a crucial role in ensuring accountability and transparency, often proving to be more effective than the ruling party itself.
Dr Jasrotia, who is also the party’s spokesperson, in a statement issued here highlighted the unique political reality of Jammu and Kashmir following the 2024 Assembly elections. He said that despite the BJP emerging as the top choice among voters and surpassing the National Conference (NC) by approximately 1.5 lakh votes, the party chose to sit in the opposition—an unequivocal demonstration of its commitment to democratic principles.
Referring to historical injustices, the BJP leader said there had been a systemic neglect of Jammu since 1951-52 and the alleged gerrymandering of constituencies, which has often resulted in distorted electoral outcomes. “These structural flaws have unfairly shaped winners and losers, reinforcing the need for a vigilant opposition,” he said.
Quoting Abraham Lincoln, he remarked, “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.” Referring to the recent Delhi elections, he said even minority communities overwhelmingly supported the BJP. “This will soon be reflected in J&K,” he added.
Dr Jasrotia strongly endorsed the proposal of a shadow government, as put forward by Leader of the Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma, to ensure that the voice of the people is not ignored. He said the BJP will remain proactive in holding the NC-led government accountable.
Launching a scathing attack on the NC-led administration, the BJP spokesperson exposed its failure to fulfill the lofty promises made before the elections. He said the pledge of 1 lakh government jobs remains unfulfilled, the promise of 200 units of free electricity has not been implemented, and the assurance of 12 free LPG cylinders turned out to be a deceptive gimmick, benefiting only a fraction of the population. He accused the Omar Abdullah’s government of misleading the people without clearly defining these benefits as exclusive to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
Dr Jasrotia said J&K has witnessed unprecedented progress in the last five years. He said GDP has doubled compared to Omar Abdullah’s previous tenure, J&K Bank has returned to profitability, and a record voter turnout in the 2024 elections signals a new era of democratic participation. He accused the NC government of prioritising the harassment of bureaucrats over governance. “Escapism is no longer an option,” he said, urging the government to deliver results instead of engaging in blame games.
Using the proverb “A bad workman quarrels with his tools”, Dr Jasrotia urged the Omar Abdullah cabinet to see the BJP’s vigilant opposition as a blessing rather than a hindrance. “BJP’s scrutiny would keep the ruling government on its toes and ensure better governance and accountability,” he said.
