SRINAGAR: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday challenged the BJP to explain attacks on Kashmiris in other parts of the country, saying the party should shift its focus from the expansion of the Omar Abdullah-led Council of Ministers to issues affecting the people.
Speaking to reporters outside Lok Bhavan in Srinagar after the swearing-in ceremony, Choudhary said the Cabinet expansion and reshuffle had been promised and had now been completed.
“We had told people that we would carry out an expansion and reshuffle, and it has now happened. The BJP and the Leader of Opposition should now be questioned on other issues,” he said, asking whether the media would continue discussing the expansion rather than examining the government’s performance.
Choudhary said the induction of senior National Conference leaders Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mir Saifullah, Shameema Firdous and Altaf Ahmad Wani would strengthen the government’s functioning and accountability.
He said the objective of the exercise was to improve governance and ensure that people across Jammu and Kashmir benefited from the government’s work.
Responding to BJP criticism of the Cabinet expansion, the Deputy Chief Minister said the issue had been repeatedly raised for six months and should now be put to rest.
He accused the BJP of misleading people and engaging in politics without raising substantive public issues.
Choudhary also urged the media to question Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and BJP leaders over incidents in which residents of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly Kashmiris, were allegedly targeted and assaulted in other states.
He said people from the region, including drivers, shawl sellers and fruit traders, travelled outside Jammu and Kashmir to earn their livelihoods and deserved to be treated with dignity.
“Why are people from Jammu and Kashmir, especially Kashmiris, beaten when they go to other states?” he asked, questioning the BJP’s response to such incidents.
The Deputy Chief Minister further said the BJP should refrain from defaming young people and acknowledge its failure to fulfil its promises.
