Sunil Sharma challenges CM over BJP option claim

Srinagar, Oct 8: Leader of the Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma on Wednesday challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to name any BJP leader who ‘offered’ to form a government with the National Conference, if there is any truth to his claims that he had the option of forming a government with the party.
Addressing a news conference, Sharma demanded that the Chief Minister identify the BJP leader who made such an offer, if there is even an iota of truth in his claims.
“Omar Abdullah is claiming everywhere that he had two options in 2024: either to form a government or to run it alone. I don’t know in which dream the BJP offered an alliance to his party. I say this with full responsibility-if any BJP leader made such an offer, he should prove it and reveal it. He is resorting to concocted stories, claiming he had the option to form a government. The BJP’s doors were shut to him then, and they remain shut now,” Sharma said.
He added that Omar Abdullah should either prove the BJP offered him an alliance or apologise for making misleading statements.
“On one hand, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is creating hatred against the BJP in Kashmir, while on the other, he is meeting our leaders and offering bouquets and shawls to them in Delhi,” Sharma said, adding that Abdullah’s statements reek of political indecency.
Referring to Omar Abdullah’s recent statement, Sharma said it is not in his nature to push others aside to advance his career.
“I come from a poor family-a very poor family. I began my political career as a booth-level worker. I have lost elections and I have won elections. But I have never trampled anyone in my life to advance my career. I have been entrusted with this responsibility because of my commitment. I have never shoved anyone aside, nor am I in a race to compete with others,” he said.
He accused Omar Abdullah’s family of having a tradition of sidelining others for personal advancement.
“You were born into Farooq Abdullah’s family and went to Mumbai to study at the Chief Minister’s residence there. You returned and shoved aside a long list of leaders who had dedicated their lives to the National Conference. They were pushed aside, and you were crowned. This is how you trample others to build your career. You didn’t work hard, nor did you struggle. The only criterion was that you were the prince of the Abdullah family and the son of Farooq Abdullah,” Sharma said.
He questioned whether Omar Abdullah’s demand for statehood was intended to harm innocent Kashmiri civilians.
He accused Abdullah of harming civilians during his tenure as Chief Minister.
“I want to remind Kashmiris that if we turn back the pages of history, we will find many fabricated stories told in the name of terrorism. Many people would narrate how they were innocent and killed during Omar Abdullah’s tenure under the guise of counter-terrorism. Do you want statehood to kill innocent Kashmiris? You didn’t eliminate terrorists-you targeted civilians, enforced shutdowns, and closed schools,” Sharma said.
He said that Omar Abdullah harmed civilians and failed to protect people during his rule as Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Wasn’t statehood with National Conference governments between 2008 to 2014 and 1996 to 2008? Wasn’t it with your governments that were in power till 1989 and 1982?” Sharma asked.
He further said that Kashmiris do not want a statehood where political rivals of the National Conference are booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), and parents live in fear for the safety of their school-going children.
Coming down heavily on the National Conference, Sharma accused the party of introducing the PSA and pellet guns.
“You were the ones who introduced pellet guns; you were the ones who imposed the PSA. If we compare the figures, the highest number of innocent civilians were killed during your tenure,” he said.
Sharma praised the Government of India for eliminating terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir without harming civilians.
“Nobody can raise a finger at the Ministry of Home Affairs for harming civilians. The biggest achievement of the MHA is that not a single local youth joined terrorism. It shows that the youth of Kashmir have accepted the policies of the Government of India and want to voice their concerns within a democratic setup,” he said.
He accused Omar Abdullah of misleading and hoodwinking the public in the name of statehood to cover up governance failures.
“If you listen to Omar Abdullah’s speeches-whether on August 15, at public functions, or in institutions-he consistently tries to hoodwink the people of Jammu and Kashmir by claiming they lack power,” Sharma added.
Countering Omar Abdullah’s claims, Sharma said the Lieutenant Governor had approved 97 decisions of the Council of Ministers over the past year.
“Tell me, which file has not been approved by the LG? Which pro-people decisions have been held back? Is it about 200 units of free electricity, 12 LPG cylinders, 10 kilograms of ration, or one lakh jobs?” he asked.
Sharma further accused Abdullah of misleading the public regarding the appointment of the Advocate General and the Transaction of Business Rules (ToBR).
“I have come to know that the file is pending with the CM’s office,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister is sitting on files related to the appointment of the Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education and the promotion of engineers. (KNO)