Jammu, Feb 18: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the J&K Legislature Sunil Sharma on Wednesday, in a mild dig at his political opponent, stated that he was not aware if the statehood would be restored to J&K after consultations with the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
“Yes, we too have no doubt about it that the J&K statehood will come. However, will that (statehood) come after Omar Abdullah Sahib’s consent – this I don’t know…Whether this process (of restoration of statehood) has begun after holding consultations with him (Omar)…I’m not aware. If he (Omar) says so then it is a good thing,” LoP replied, when asked to comment on the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement that the process of restoration was underway and the government was holding consultations with the Centre on that account.
He was responding to media queries outside the J&K Legislature.
Responding to another query, Sunil Sharma alleged, “Every section of society is suffering during the rule of Omar Abdullah government. Not just retirees, even the serving employees, are feeling harassed. The employees, who want their GP Fund for the marriage of their children, are standing in long queues. The Finance Department is headed by the Chief Minister and he also admits that the Government of India is generous in doling out finances to J&K. But the result is zero on the ground.”
Taking a dig at his political opponents, LoP mocked, “Without any vision or purpose, the Omar-government is running. In fact, its functioning has been totally left at God’s mercy. However, they (helmsmen), themselves, are enjoying to the hilt, pursuing all their leisure pursuits – golfing, skiing, cycling, jogging. They are busy in that but on the ground, the situation is dismal. Just have a glimpse of their capital expenditure, which could have been used to create jobs. Capex has not been increased. Omar Abdullah Sahib had promised to provide jobs to the unemployed within three months. Those jobs have been sold out. They have been outsourced to a company, which can be blacklisted.”
He alleged that eighty percent of the money flow from the Government of India was put into revenue expenditure, still retirees and in-service employees were waiting for their money.
“There is total chaos prevailing. There is no financial transparency here and for which the people of J&K will have to pay a heavy price,” he said.
With regard to a question about the National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah, Sunil Sharma said, “Farooq Sahib would change his statement in a jiffy, as per his convenience. He has cheated the people and the country. One cannot rely on his statement and his track record establishes it.”
