Jammu, Aug 17: National Conference leader and MLA Tanvir Sadiq on Monday hit out at the BJP over its protest in Jammu, saying the party had every democratic right to demonstrate but should first answer questions over the delay in restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, pending reservation issues and alleged backdoor appointments.
Reacting to the BJP’s protest against the Omar Abdullah-led government, Sadiq said there was nothing wrong with political parties holding demonstrations, but accused the BJP of resorting to “drama and theatrics” to remain politically relevant.
“It is the democratic right of any political party to protest. The BJP has the same right. Absolutely, let them protest,” Sadiq said. “But the kind of drama and theatrics that the BJP leaders and their president are carrying out today—two years have passed.”
Sadiq said the BJP should instead explain why the commitments of delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood had not been followed through.
“They should first look within themselves and ask: we were promised delimitation, elections and then statehood. Even after two years, statehood has not come,” he said.
He alleged that the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir had been “destroyed and divided into two parts” and accused the BJP of making the region dependent on the Centre.
“They have made us dependent on them for everything,” Sadiq said, arguing that the economic and administrative situation would have been different had the changes not been made.
He also targeted the Centre over the absence of an Advocate General and the pending reservation file, saying the BJP should explain why, in his view, “it is creating obstacles in everything.”
Sadiq also challenged the BJP over its opposition to alleged backdoor appointments, referring to a recent government press conference on the issue and reports that the BJP planned to gherao the SPSC.
“My simple question is this: every agency in this country is with the BJP. It would take them just a minute to order an investigation into this,” he said.
He called for a full investigation, saying, “Let there be a proper investigation. The truth will come out.”
Sadiq further accused the BJP of deliberately misleading people over the issue.
“If the National Conference or anyone else had made backdoor appointments, they would have investigated it from day one,” he said. “They deliberately want to mislead the people, and that is the same drama they staged in Jammu today.”
Taking a swipe at former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, Sadiq also revived the National Conference’s criticism of the PDP-BJP alliance.
“Wasn’t Mehbooba Mufti the same person who brought the BJP here?” he asked, recalling that the National Conference had opposed the alliance.
“We pleaded with her, saying, for God’s sake, don’t bring the BJP here; this state will be destroyed,” he said.
Sadiq said Omar Abdullah had even offered “unconditional support” at the time to prevent the BJP from entering government in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Today, all this crying from a distance looks like crocodile tears,” he said.
Sadiq concluded by positioning the National Conference as the principal political force fighting for Jammu and Kashmir’s rights.
“Today, there is only one political party—the National Conference—that is fighting both inside the Assembly and outside it for its rights and constitutional rights,” he said.
