Owais Gul
Srinagar, Nov 8: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sham Lal Sharma criticized the National Conference-led administration’s recent efforts to reintroduce a proposal on Article 370 in the legislative assembly, labeling it as “legally baseless” and unlikely to pass through the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
In an exclusive interview, Sharma deemed the National Conference’s resolution on Article 370 as a futile effort, stating that it holds no legal sanctity and that local legislative bodies do not have the authority to challenge decisions of national or constitutional magnitude.
“This proposal is merely a distraction to shift attention away from the government’s failure to deliver on their promises of basic amenities and employment for the people,” Sharma said.
The BJP leader and former minister also voiced strong opposition to the National Conference’s agenda, accusing them of manipulating public sentiment and failing to prioritize development and stability in the region. Sharma also spoke about a parallel assembly session held by BJP legislators outside the assembly secretariat on Friday, where he took on the role of speaker.
Sharma criticized the National Conference’s political strategy, accusing them of “changing colors like a chameleon” and using emotional blackmail to influence voters. He traced the party’s controversial history from its early days as the Muslim Conference to its rebranding as the National Conference, alleging that the party’s approach has always been opportunistic and self-serving.
He said that after the abrogation of Article 370 five years ago, the region has experienced unprecedented peace and development. “The return of normalcy over the last five years has brought an end to incidents of stone-pelting and civilian killings. Today, tourism is booming, and people are living peacefully,” he said, adding that the National Conference seeks to disrupt this newfound calm to preserve its political stronghold.
Referring to promises made in the National Conference’s election manifesto, Sharma said, “They promised the people 38 commitments, from free ration and 200 units of electricity to higher pensions for the elderly and financially disadvantaged. Yet none of these pledges have appeared in the government’s official agenda.” According to Sharma, these promises were only meant to gain political leverage and have no place in actual governance.
Highlighting the need for constructive opposition, Sharma criticized the current Speaker of the assembly, alleging that he acted as an “agent” for the National Conference, disregarding impartiality. “If they had focused on good governance and truly constructive policies, we would have supported them. Instead, they are misleading the people,” Sharma said.
