Autumn Session Failed to Address People’s Issues, Says Sunil Sharma
Srinagar, September 30, 2026: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Wednesday termed the seven-day Autumn Session “unfortunate” and said the government had failed to address the concerns and expectations of various sections of society.
Addressing media persons on the concluding day of the session, Sharma said daily wagers, NHM employees, contractual workers, NYC personnel, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and other sections of society had expected the government to respond to their demands and grievances.
He said the BJP had collected issues from different districts and raised them during the session, but alleged that the government failed to provide satisfactory responses to several of the concerns.
Reacting to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s assessment of the session as fruitful, Sharma questioned the basis of the assessment and said, “Fruitful from which angle?” He alleged that the session had failed to meet the expectations of the people.
On the issue of restoration of statehood, Sharma said the BJP remained committed to statehood as part of its stated position. However, he alleged that linking the demand for statehood with the pre-1953 position and Article 370 had complicated the issue.
“After the abrogation of Article 370, the Constitution of India is fully applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. By bringing the pre-1953 position into the discussion again, the government has, in our view, complicated the issue of statehood,” Sharma said.
He also referred to the historical differences between the Union government and the then leadership of Jammu and Kashmir, including the issues of a separate Constitution and flag.
Questioning the Congress leadership over its position on the statehood resolution, Sharma sought clarity from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi on their party’s stance regarding the references to the pre-1953 position and Article 370 in the resolution.
Sharma also questioned the Speaker’s decision to allow the resolution to be taken up in the Assembly, referring to the reported objections raised by the Law Department. He sought clarification on the rules under which the resolution was admitted and called for accountability over the decision.
He said the BJP had prepared a dossier highlighting what it described as unfulfilled government commitments and would submit it through the Assembly.
Sharma further claimed that around 13,000 posts remained vacant in Jammu and Kashmir and alleged that the government had not been able to make effective use of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for filling vacancies.
He said the BJP would continue to raise issues concerning different sections of society and seek accountability from the government on its commitments. ANB
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