SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Sunday accused the BJP-led Centre of degrading Jammu and Kashmir’s status and depriving its people of political rights by not restoring full statehood.
Addressing party workers near Nund Bub Colony, Lale Da Bagh, Lower Barnai, in Ward 67 of the Jammu North Assembly constituency, Sadhotra said the continued denial of full statehood and the existing system of dual control had affected governance, development and accountability in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the people of J&K had the right to seek restoration of the status they enjoyed before the August 2019 decisions, along with adequate powers for the elected government.
Sadhotra said the division of powers between the elected government and the administrative set-up had created difficulties in fixing responsibility and accountability.
Referring to the 2024 Assembly elections, he said Jammu had given the BJP 29 seats with the expectation that its representatives would use their political influence to press the Centre for restoration of full statehood.
He accused BJP representatives of failing to raise the issue effectively with the Centre and said the party had not lived up to the expectations of the people of Jammu.
Sadhotra said the National Conference remained committed to restoration of full statehood and the protection of the political, economic and social interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He urged party workers to remain connected with the public and raise their grievances, while saying the party would continue to pursue the demand for statehood through constitutional and democratic means.
