SRINAGAR, Feb 21: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma today launched a sharp attack on the Omar Abdullah-led Government, accusing it of “misleading people” in the name of “special status” and failing the youth of Jammu and Kashmir on key promises, particularly employment.
“Article 370 is history. There is no possibility of its restoration,” Sharma said, challenging the Government to specify where the term “special status” exists in the Constitution in the manner it is being projected. Click here to watch video
Addressing a gathering during the BJP’s mega joining programme at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) here, Sharma alleged that the National Conference (NC) had sought votes in the 2024 Assembly elections in the name of restoring Article 370 but later admitted it could not expect support from the BJP at the Centre.
“Constitutional positions cannot be altered through political slogans. People must ask what exactly is being promised under the term ‘special status’,” he said.
Sharma accused the NC of betraying the youth through what he described as political double standards, shifting positions and ineffective governance.
He alleged that despite publicly opposing the BJP, the NC had aligned with it at different points in the past for political gains.
The senior BJP leader also criticised the NC’s earlier tenure, claiming that commitments regarding autonomy resolutions and financial assistance packages remained unfulfilled.
Turning to employment, Sharma questioned the Government’s promise of providing one lakh jobs within 180 days.
“I asked the Chief Minister in the Assembly about the one lakh jobs promise. Instead, they are justifying the figure of 24,000 outsourced posts,” he told reporters later.
He alleged that nearly 24,000 positions were outsourced to a private firm without public advertisements, competitive examinations or interviews, bypassing established recruitment norms.
Criticising the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sharma said it had failed to effectively question the Government.
Referring to PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, he said the party had been voted in to hold the NC accountable but was instead adopting a “different stance.” “This exposes their dual character,” he said.
Claiming that political equations in the Valley were shifting, Sharma said youth and political activists were joining the BJP in large numbers.
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