SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Saturday criticised the BJP over its opposition to the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Legislative Assembly seeking restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Sadhotra said the resolution, like those passed in 2000 and 2024, was neither an “out of the box proposition” nor outside the Constitution, as he alleged the BJP was portraying it.
“Restoration of full statehood is a constitutional and democratic demand,” Sadhotra said, adding that Jammu and Kashmir was seeking restoration of the status it enjoyed before its conversion into a Union Territory.
He also referred to assurances by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding restoration of statehood, saying such assurances had been made in Parliament and outside it. He further claimed that the government had assured restoration of statehood before the Supreme Court.
Sadhotra said the operative demand of the resolution was the “immediate and urgent restoration” of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Questioning the BJP’s opposition, he said its legislators should participate in the Assembly debate and vote on the resolution instead of creating a ruckus.
“If the BJP has nothing to fear from the people’s mandate, let its legislators debate the resolution, participate in the proceedings and vote,” he said.
Sadhotra accused the BJP of “political doublespeak” on an issue that, he said, concerned the dignity and constitutional rights of people across Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the people were seeking “dignity, democratic space and restoration of their constitutional status” and were not asking for charity.
“The BJP cannot speak in two voices. It cannot claim to respect the democratic aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir and, at the same time, seek to obstruct a discussion on restoration of statehood in the elected Assembly,” Sadhotra said.
He urged the BJP to rise above partisan politics and respect the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Let there be a debate, let there be a vote and let the people see where every party stands,” he said
