National Conference Additional General Secretary and former Minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today said the rigid obstinacy of the BJP-led Government at the Centre has degraded the historic State of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory, while depriving its people of their political rights, dignity and special identity. Addressing party workers near Nund Bub Colony Lale da Bagh Lower Barnai, Ward No. 67 in Jammu North Assembly Constituency which was organized by Sandeep Singh Manhas and Amit Singh Jamwal, Sadhotra said the continued denial of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and the system of dual control had caused enormous difficulties for the people and impeded development, economic activity, effective governance and accountability.
He said Jammu and Kashmir had a long and distinctive political history and its people had every right to demand restoration of the status they enjoyed before the August 2019 decisions.
“The people of J&K are not asking for anything extraordinary. They are seeking restoration of their democratic and constitutional rights and adequate powers to the elected and popular government to serve the people,” he said.
Sadhotra said the absence of full statehood had created an avoidable disconnect between the elected government and the administrative machinery. With important powers divided between the elected dispensation and the proxy set up, he said, responsibility and accountability often became difficult to fix.
“This arrangement has neither served Jammu nor Kashmir. Development requires clarity of responsibility, investment requires confidence, and governance requires accountability. A system in which the elected government does not have adequate powers cannot fully respond to the aspirations of the people,” he said. Referring to the 2024 Assembly elections, Mr Sadhotra said the people of Jammu had given the BJP 29 seats in the belief that its representatives would use their political influence to prevail upon the Centre and secure restoration of full statehood, as repeatedly promised by the party.
“But the people soon realised that the mandate they gave in good faith was not being used to protect their interests. Instead of acting as the voice of Jammu before the Centre, BJP representatives have remained silent when Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and political rights are at stake,” he said.
Sadhotra said the people had expected their elected representatives to press the Centre for fulfilling its commitments, particularly on restoration of statehood. “The mandate was not a licence to remain silent. It was a responsibility to speak for the people and safeguard their interests,” he added. He said the National Conference remained committed to democratic institutions, restoration of full statehood and protection of the political, economic and social interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Sadhotra urged party workers to remain connected with the people, listen to their grievances and expose failure of the BJP to live up to the expectations it created among the people of Jammu on the very important issue of full statehood. He said the struggle for restoration of statehood was not a political slogan but a legitimate democratic demand of the people, and the National Conference would continue to pursue it through constitutional and democratic means. Prominent among those present on the occasion included Ghar Singh Ex- Corporator, Rakesh Sharma, Tilak Raj Bhagat, Vishawjeet Singh Samyal, Veer Ji Bhat, Kamla Rani, Santosh Rani, Ravi Sharma, Faquir Chand Ex-Sarpanch, Rajinder Singh, Capt Prem Singh Bhau, Madan Lal, Poonam Sharma, Neha Kumari. Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Additional General Secretary National Conference and former Minister addressing party workers near Nund Bub Colony Lale Da Bagh Lower Barnai, Ward No. 67 in Jammu North Assembly Constituency