Says party ‘cannot hide its statehood failure behind theatrics’

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MLA Zadibal and Chief Spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq Monday came down heavily on the BJP over its protest against the Omar Abdullah-led government, saying the BJP must first answer the people of Jammu and Kashmir on the continued denial of statehood and the failure to fulfil its own commitments. Sadiq said the BJP had every democratic right to hold demonstrations, but questioned the purpose of what he described as “drama and theatrics” when the people were still waiting for the restoration of their constitutional rights. “Let the BJP protest; it is their democratic right. But after two years, the simple question remains: where is statehood? They promised delimitation, elections and then restoration of statehood. Elections have happened, but statehood is still nowhere in sight,” he said. He said the BJP should look within before lecturing others. “The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was dismantled and divided into two Union Territories, and its people were stripped of their constitutional and political rights. Instead of creating distractions, the BJP should tell the people why statehood has been delayed,” Sadiq said. Taking aim at the BJP over the pending reservation-related issue, Sadiq questioned why files and decisions concerning Jammu and Kashmir continued to remain unresolved. On allegations of backdoor appointments, Sadiq said the matter should be subjected to a thorough and impartial investigation rather than being turned into a political spectacle. “If there has been any wrongdoing, let there be a proper investigation and let the truth come out. The BJP has no reason to turn every issue into political theatre when it has the means and influence to seek an investigation through the appropriate agencies,” he said. Sadiq noted that BJP is deliberately creating distractions to divert public attention from issues that directly affect the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “If the National Conference had made illegal or backdoor appointments, why would anyone oppose an investigation? Let the facts come out. The people deserve the truth, not manufactured controversies and political theatrics,” he said. Recalling the PDP-BJP alliance, Sadiq also questioned those who had facilitated the BJP’s entry into the government in Jammu and Kashmir despite repeated warnings from the National Conference. “We had warned against bringing the BJP into the government and repeatedly appealed that this would have serious consequences for Jammu and Kashmir. Omar Abdullah had even offered unconditional support to prevent such an arrangement. Those who enabled that alliance cannot now shed crocodile tears from the sidelines,” he said. Sadiq said the BJP’s latest protest could not conceal its failure to address the fundamental question of statehood. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are not asking for slogans or theatrics. They are asking for their rights. They want statehood restored, their constitutional dignity respected and their political voice strengthened,” he said. He asserted that the National Conference would continue to raise these issues both inside the Assembly and outside it. “The National Conference will continue to fight for the rights and dignity of Jammu and Kashmir. We will not allow diversionary politics to drown out the people’s demand for statehood and their constitutional rights,” Sadiq said.