SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Thursday accused the BJP of committing its “biggest political betrayal” by failing to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir despite repeated assurances made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court.
Addressing a public meeting at Sanan Ghat in Basohli Assembly constituency, Sadhotra said the continued delay in restoring statehood had eroded public faith in democracy and exposed what he termed the BJP’s “politics of deceit and deception.”
“The people exercised their democratic right with the hope that their mandate would be respected and their aspirations fulfilled. Instead, the BJP has weakened democratic institutions by refusing to restore full statehood and by continuing with an arrangement that politically disempowers the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The meeting was organised by Block President Basohli Raja Rafiq, former Sarpanch Madan Lal and former Naib Sarpanch Pawan Kumar.
Sadhotra alleged that despite the election of a popular government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the BJP-led Centre had retained dual control over governance, limiting the powers of the elected government.
He said the demand for restoration of statehood was not unreasonable but was based on commitments made by the BJP at the time of the abrogation of Article 370 and later before the Supreme Court.
Referring to the Assembly elections, Sadhotra said it was unfortunate that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had to approach the Supreme Court to secure their democratic right to elections. He added that the National Conference, led by Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, had also been compelled to protest outside Parliament to press for the restoration of statehood.
Describing the denial of statehood as “an assault on the dignity, identity and democratic rights” of the people, Sadhotra claimed that people across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Jammu region, felt disappointed over the BJP’s failure to fulfil its commitments.
He said many voters in Jammu had supported the BJP in the 2024 Assembly elections believing its promises on restoring statehood, strengthening democratic institutions and safeguarding regional interests, but had instead been “rewarded with the worst form of political betrayal.”
Claiming that public resentment against the BJP was growing, Sadhotra alleged that the party had failed Jammu and Kashmir on issues including restoration of statehood, democratic empowerment, protection of regional aspirations and respect for the people’s mandate.
He said no democracy could function effectively if an elected government was denied adequate powers and added that withholding statehood had undermined the spirit of federalism.
Reaffirming the National Conference’s commitment to the people, Sadhotra said the party would continue its struggle for restoration of full statehood until the democratic rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir were fully restored.
Among those present were Provincial Secretary Mohd Ayoub Malik, District President Kathua Ajit Kumar Seth, District President Jammu Chander Mohan Sharma, District President Kathua (Rural)
Sham Narayan Mehta, S. Jatinder Singh Lucky, Hamid Chowdhary, Pardeep Kumar, Kuldeep Raj, Vivek Gupta, Veer Ji Bhat, Ashwani Charak, Chowdhary Hamid and Devender Mehta.
