Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Apr 12: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Sunil Sharma, on Saturday said that separatist ideology has lost ground in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Hurriyat Conference becoming “irrelevant.”
Talking to reporters here, LoP Sharma, said, “Hurriyat had 40 offices in Raj Bagh only. Today you will not even find 40 people of Hurriyat in entire Kashmir.”
He said this transformation is a result of the Centre’s firm and clear-cut policy on separatism, as pursued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “There is no place for separatism in the Kashmir policy of PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah,” Sharma said, adding that the Centre’s strategy is “to nip separatism in the bud.”
The BJP leader said that many former separatists have now realized the futility of their ideology and are surrendering to join the mainstream. “Hurriyat has understood that it cannot survive… That’s why they are surrendering and joining the mainstream. We welcome them. We have always maintained that only peace can take Kashmir to new heights,” he added.
Sharma welcomed the shift and said it was better late than never. “It’s good that akal has come, although late,” he added.
Referring to Kishtwar encounter, he said, “Killing of three terrorists in at Chatru in Naidgam forests is a major success. For the past one year terrorists have been sitting at peaks and carrying out attacks. This breakthrough will become a chain in wiping out terrorism from the region.”
Earlier addressing a news conference, LoP Sharma launched a scathing attack on the ruling National Conference (NC), accusing it of disrupting the proceedings of the House during the last three days of recently concluded budget session.
“The NC did not allow the Assembly to function. We wanted to raise important issues concerning the people, but they created chaos and did not allow us to speak.”
“It was for the first time in the history of the assembly that the government itself did not allow the House to run. The government was theirs, the Speaker was theirs, but they enacted a drama opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill and did not allow the House to run as they did not want people’s issues to be discussed,” he said.
Sharma said the BJP-led central government is firm on its commitment to Jammu and Kashmir’s holistic development. “All centrally-sponsored schemes will continue to run without any hurdles. We are ensuring that every section of society benefits from these schemes,” he asserted.
Reiterating BJP’s stand on peace and security in the Union Territory, Sharma said, “We will not allow the return of stone-pelting, shutdowns, or violence. The situation has improved significantly. Schools are open, there are no hartals, and normalcy has returned to downtown Srinagar, which once remained shut under previous regimes.”
Taking a direct dig at the NC leadership, Sharma, said, “They often say 10,000 workers were killed—but these killings happened during the regimes of Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah. Since law and order came under the Union Home Ministry led by Amit Shah, not a single NC worker has been harmed.”
He said that the killings of NC workers should be probed. “NC should either acknowledge that they failed to protect the lives of their workers or where they hand in glove with the conspirators,” Sharma added.
Sharma said, “The National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), instead of invoking the Public Safety Act (PSA) to safeguard innocent lives, chose to let miscreants roam free—resulting in the killing of civilians—all in an attempt to appease separatist forces. In contrast, the BJP-led government acted decisively by putting such elements behind bars and protecting the lives of ordinary people.”
He also dismissed the National Conference’s constant pitch for the restoration of statehood, saying, “Statehood is part of BJP’s narrative, not NC’s. Omar Abdullah should not mislead people. Statehood will be restored at an appropriate time. Raising religious and provocative slogans inside the Assembly will not accelerate that process.”
The BJP leader further alleged that NC leaders were attempting to provoke religious sentiments within the House. “The Assembly is a place for debate and legislation, not for raising religious slogans. Are they trying to create a communal divide?” he questioned.
Referring to past controversies, Sharma reminded, “When the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed became Chief Minister, he released separatist leader Masrat Alam. It was NC workers who celebrated his release.”
Sharma said that terrorism has been confined to forests and jungles. “There is a difference between terrorism and disruption. Peace has been established and terrorists have been pushed to the hinterland,” he added.
Sharma said that the BJP is committed to restoring and preserving peace. “It seems that NC and PDP leaders need to be reminded that even today their graves are protected by security forces,” he added. (KNO)
