- विज्ञापन -
Jammu: The Budget Session of the Jammu Legislative Assembly is set to start on Monday. The Congress party, alongside the National Conference, is expected to emphasize the demand for restoring statehood. Prior to the session, the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Sunil Sharma, convened a meeting with BJP MLAs to strategize.
Discussing the statehood issue with ANI, Sharma remarked, “Statehood is not a pressing matter and falls outside the assembly’s jurisdiction. The ruling party should focus on fulfilling their promises, like providing 200 units of free electricity, free rations, free cylinders, pensions, and employment.” He also mentioned that the BJP would raise concerns about daily governance issues affecting citizens.
BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa warned that if Congress or the PDP led by Mehbooba Mufti brings up “insignificant issues,” they would encounter difficulties. He emphasized the importance of listening to the LG’s address calmly and suggested that the BJP would contribute positively during the session. Randhawa pointed out that both PDP and Congress have limited representation in the assembly, stating that they could run into trouble if they focus on trivial matters.
Shakti Parihar, the BJP MLA from Doda West, stated that the party intends to serve as a constructive opposition, highlighting issues related to public interests. Awami Ittehad Party MLA Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh expressed plans to address statehood for J&K and the status of Article 370, criticizing the National Conference’s clarity of intent on these matters.
On Sunday, Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir reaffirmed the demand for restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, emphasizing that it reflects the desires of the region’s 1.4 crore residents. He asserted, “This is the people’s demand and is unrelated to the BJP or any other party.”
It’s worth noting that restoring Article 370, reinstating statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, and implementing the autonomy resolution were central commitments in the National Conference’s election manifesto. In August 2019, the central government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revoked Article 370, which had previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
