Omar using 370, Autonomy references to recreate sentiment in Kashmir: LoP

Srinagar, Sep 25: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma on Friday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of using references to Article 370, autonomy and earlier resolutions in the statehood resolution to recreate political sentiments among Kashmiris and regain the government’s strength amid what he described as its failures on governance.
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‎Speaking to reporters, Sharma said the BJP rejected the move in its present form, alleging that the references had been deliberately brought into a resolution that was otherwise meant to seek restoration of statehood.
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‎“Today, when the government has lost its strength in Jammu and Kashmir on the issue of governance, to restore its strength again, you have brought such words with which this so-called sympathy, so-called sentiments, so-called emotions, should be re-created in Kashmiris,” Sharma said.
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‎He said the BJP would not accept what he described as an attempt to bring the issues of autonomy and Article 370 into the House under the cover of the statehood resolution.
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‎“At any cost, the so-called autonomy, the so-called resolution of 370, will not be allowed to be admitted here. There will be no debate on this. If you want to discuss statehood, we challenge you,” he said.
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‎Sharma said every BJP MLA was ready to debate the restoration of statehood but alleged that the government was linking it with earlier resolutions to prolong the issue.
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‎The LoP also questioned the Congress over its position on the resolution, asking the party leadership to clarify whether it supported the references to Article 370 and autonomy or stood with the government.
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‎“Congress should clear its position. From Rahul Gandhi to the state chief of Congress, they should clear their position. Are they with this resolution, the position of pre-53? Are they with 370, or are they with the government?” Sharma said.
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‎He said the Congress should make its position clear on the issue instead of maintaining ambiguity.
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‎“First, the Congress Party should clear its position that it is with the 370 and autonomy resolution or with the government. One of the two things should be cleared,” he said.
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‎Sharma also questioned Omar over his earlier association with the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, referring to his tenure as a Union minister.
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‎“When you sat in the Cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in our government and rejected this resolution, you were not with us then,” he said.
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‎He further questioned Omar’s decision to bring the resolution before the Assembly, alleging that the government was deliberately extending the statehood debate.
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‎“You know that statehood will come. There will be more questions in front of you, that the BJP has given statehood. You are not doing anything. To hide your failures, you prolong statehood,” Sharma said.
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‎He alleged that Omar could have pursued the issue with the Union government instead of bringing references to earlier resolutions into the Assembly.
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‎Sharma also asked Omar whether the inclusion of the references was intended to delay restoration of statehood.
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‎“The BJP wants an answer to these questions. Till then, we will continue to protest,” Sharma said.(KNS)