Article 370 a Closed Chapter, NC Should Focus on Good Governance: Sat Sharma
JAMMU, NOVEMBER 14: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma (CA) on Saturday criticised National Conference (NC) President Dr. Farooq Abdullah for repeatedly raising the issue of restoring special status to Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that the party should focus on good governance and addressing public concerns rather than revisiting the issue of Article 370.
Sat Sharma made these remarks during a discussion on the prevailing political situation in the Union Territory with BJP General Secretary Gopal Mahajan, MLA Vikram Randhawa, State Secretary Pawan Sharma, Office Secretary Tilak Gupta, Spokesperson Balbir Ram Rattan, Protocol In-charge Sanjay Khanna, former Vice-Chancellor Daljit Singh Chib and media team member Rohin Chandan.
Reacting to Farooq Abdullah’s statement describing special status as the legacy of the National Conference and expressing his party’s readiness to make any sacrifice for its restoration, Sat Sharma said that Article 370 was abrogated by Parliament through a constitutional process in August 2019, a decision subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court of India.
He maintained that repeating political slogans and making emotional appeals would not alter the prevailing constitutional position. He also questioned the NC leadership over what he described as its failure to fulfil key promises made during the Assembly elections.
“Why are unemployed youth, daily wagers, contractual employees and other sections of society still waiting for the promised relief? Why is the ruling party more concerned about historical political issues than addressing the everyday problems of ordinary citizens?” he asked.
The BJP president further said that while the National Conference describes special status as its political legacy, people have the right to assess the party’s performance during its decades in power in Jammu and Kashmir. He pointed out that unemployment, regional disparities and several other public concerns continued to remain major challenges.
Emphasising accountability and performance, Sat Sharma said that the credibility of any political party should be judged by its governance, public welfare initiatives and commitment to fulfilling electoral commitments rather than emotional speeches and repetitive political assertions.
He said the National Conference, being at the helm of the elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, should prioritise employment generation, education, healthcare, infrastructure development and the fulfilment of its election promises instead of diverting public attention towards repeated debates over Article 370.
Sat Sharma asserted that the BJP would continue to question the National Conference government's policies and hold it accountable for the commitments made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. ANB
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