Srinagar, July 10: Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Friday termed the ruling National Conference’s proposed protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi over the restoration of statehood as an “eye-wash”, accusing the government of using political theatrics to divert attention from its failures.
The National Conference has invited 52 leaders from political parties and religious organisations across the country to participate in the July 20 protest in support of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The party has also extended an invitation to J&K BJP president Sat Sharma.
Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Sharma said the BJP would not participate in the demonstration. The decision, he said, was taken after thorough deliberations by the senior leaders of the party.
“They have come up with new theatrics to hide their failures. For three generations they have been enacting dramas, and now the third generation is staging another one at Jantar Mantar. This protest is nothing but an eye-wash. Corruption is being carried out in the name of statehood,” Sharma alleged.
He said it was unfortunate that whenever people sought answers on governance issues, the government responded by announcing protests and demonstrations.
“Statehood will be restored through Parliament, not through protests at Jantar Mantar. Why should we join such a programme and with whom should we stand? The BJP rejects such politics,” he said.
The BJP leader also questioned the status of the signature campaign announced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on August 15 last year in support of statehood restoration.
“A year has passed since that announcement. Does the Chief Minister even remember it now?” Sharma asked.
Meanwhile, Sharma announced that the BJP would launch a mass movement against the government’s alleged job outsourcing policy, beginning with a gherao of the Civil Secretariat.
“We will start this agitation from Kashmir and take it to every corner of Jammu and Kashmir to seek justice for our youth. The government must immediately roll back the outsourcing policy,” he said.
Appealing to young people to join the campaign, Sharma said the BJP would continue its struggle against what he described as an injustice to unemployed youth.
“The BJP will not remain silent. We appeal to the youth to come forward and fight for their rights and justice,” he said. Sharma also accused the government of corruption and urged investigative agencies to probe its functioning.
