Budgam, Oct 08 (KNO): Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary on Tuesday strongly reacted to remarks made by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, who accused Omar Abdullah of seeking statehood to consolidate power and target innocent civilians in Kashmir.
Talking to media persons at Seerbagh Shalina, Chaudhary, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said, “Ask the LoP why he didn’t stop the Machail Mata Yatra when there was a weather high alert and people were killed there. It was his Padder constituency. Why didn’t he stop the Yatra? Don’t raise a finger on my leader. Come and debate with me."
The Deputy CM questioned Sharma’s silence over key issues affecting Jammu: “What do you want to show? You are not standing with the people of the Jammu division, who gave you 28 seats. Today, Jammu is suffering due to floods. Bridges and houses have collapsed, roads are damaged, and crops and apples are destroyed. Why don’t you speak about that? Did you give any compensation to the affected people?”
Chaudhary further added, “Why don’t you speak about unemployed farmers? Why didn’t you resolve the issue of daily wagers in the last 11 years? Why don’t you speak for Jammu? It’s all drama. The LoP is a leader of reels, not of the ground. NC leaders are among the people, in panchayats, and constantly engaging with them.”
On the upcoming by-elections, the Deputy CM said the National Conference is fully prepared and confident of victory. “We are ready for Budgam and Nagrota by-elections and will win both seats,” he said.
Accusing the BJP of “political drama,” Chaudhary said, “If they truly sympathised with Jammu and Kashmir, they wouldn’t have scrapped statehood or reduced us to a Union Territory. Give us statehood back.”
Responding to the BJP’s criticism of the NC’s manifesto, which includes promises of free electricity, 12 gas cylinders, and employment opportunities, he said, “Did the unemployed youth take birth in the last one year? This unemployment crisis has been created over the past 11 years by the BJP, PDP, and six years of LG administration.”
Chaudhary added, “We are not selected or appointed, but elected by the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We have promised statehood, and we will fulfil that promise. The LG should show sympathy towards the people. Unemployed youth deserve opportunities. And if Omar Abdullah wants to deliver, give us the statehood back so that we can work for our people.”—(KNO)