SRINAGAR: BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma voiced disappointment over the National Conference’s failure to officially offer the Deputy Speaker’s post to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite a customary allocation of this role to the main opposition party.
“So far, there has been no official communication from the National Conference regarding the Deputy Speaker’s position for the BJP,” Sharma told local news gatherer KINS.
Sharma further expressed concerns about the National Conference’s statements on Article 370, abolished in 2019, criticising them as “false promises” that could mislead the public. He asserted that “Article 370 is now history,” noting that both the Supreme Court’s ruling and the high voter turnout in recent elections signal public acceptance. Sharma condemned the National Conference’s position on the abrogation, suggesting it could reignite unrest among Kashmir’s youth. “Their politics encouraged youth to take to the streets in the past,” he said, “but BJP will never allow a return to those times.”
On statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma affirmed that the BJP is committed to restoration but stressed it would require a parliamentary decision informed by security reports and presidential approval. He urged patience, reminding the public of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s and Home Minister Amit Shah’s pledges to restore statehood “at the right time.”
Additionally, Sharma spoke on the traditional Darbar Move, the biannual government office shift between Jammu and Srinagar, arguing that with a new e-filing system, the move was an unnecessary public expense. The BJP will review its impact and decide on its stance, he added.
Sharma reiterated the BJP’s dedication to the development of Jammu and Kashmir, crediting recent election successes to public trust. He paid tribute to security personnel and civilians who have sacrificed their lives in the region’s conflicts, and he mourned the recent death of BJP leader Devender Singh Rana, whom he described as a “mentor and brother,” whose absence, he said, would be keenly felt across party lines.
