Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma, who is the State’s Health minister stirred a controversy this week by suggesting trifurcation for Jammu and Kashmir and giving away Azadi to Kashmir Valley. Sharma’s remarks embarrassed his party and angered the coalition partner National Conference.
Interestingly there were no welcoming voices from the valley separatist camp too. At a public rally in Bani on December 5 Sharma pitched for Azadi to get rid of the “dominant” Valley.
“Kashmiris take away a major share of funds allocated by the Centre and also show eyes at it. On the other hand, those who get discriminated against remain silent… Such a situation cannot be tolerated for long,” he said.
“If Kashmiris want Azadi, give it to them.”
Apart from Azadi from Valley, Sharma suggested separate statehood for Jammu, and Union Territory status to Ladakh.
“While there are voices for ‘azadi’ in Kashmir, people in Jammu and Ladakh complain of discrimination in all spheres,” he said.
Sharma’s remarks shocked Congress leader Saif-ud-Din Soz who was present at the rally. Later the party spokesman in New Delhi distanced from the minister’s remarks and termed it as his personal opinion.
However NC and BJP criticised the remarks. Sharma then took a shot at the coalition partner National Conference, and defended his remarks. He said the NC leaders like Mustafa Kamal were violating the coalition dharma by blaming Congress of deceiving Kashmir.
He said that whatever he said was “in the background of the venom being poured out by National Conference leader Mustafa Kamal against the Congress high command” and his “rejection of the genuine concerns of Jammu province”.
NC shot back by calling the remarks unfortunate. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah later said that the minister’s remarks were being looked into, and if required action would be taken.
