Sriniagar, Aug 15: Senior BJP leader and the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Saturday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his Independence Day address, stating that using the Independence Day stage for scoring political points was totally irresponsible on part of Omar.
“It is an irresponsible statement from the Chief Minister to seek status and federal structure from the stage of Independence Day. He should have spoken about his government’s performance and future plans instead of indulging in politics on this national day,” Sharma told reporters after attending the I-Day function at Bakshi Stadium.
Sharma’s remarks came shortly after Omar, while addressing the main Independence Day function in Srinagar, reiterated his demand for restoration of J&K’s statehood and stated that the Union Territory should become the starting point for strengthening federalism.
The LoP said that the Independence Day platform should focus on the country’s achievements, sacrifices of freedom fighters, development and the future rather than political demands.
He argued that the Chief Minister, as head of the elected government, should have used the occasion to present his administration’s achievements and outline its plans for J&K. “I believe, the federal structure in J&K was strengthened and further streamlined post August 5, 2019,” Sharma said.
The fact, Sharma said, remains that Chief Minister Omar led government has failed to deliver on governance and they are raising the issues that are no more relevant to J&K. Sharma’s criticism is likely to further sharpen the political debate over the nature and timing of the statehood campaign, with the Opposition maintaining that the national occasion should remain above partisan politics.
He praised the people of Kashmir, stating that it was a welcome development to see all the participants during the Independence Day standing in respect to the national song and tri-colour.
