Srinagar: Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma on Friday said the BJP is ready to debate the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, but would not allow a debate on Article 370 or the 2000 autonomy resolution.
Addressing reporters, Sharma said the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is “controversial” and questioned the inclusion of the 2000 autonomy resolution in the fresh resolution seeking restoration of statehood.
“Today’s resolution moved by the Chief Minister is controversial and disputed. The
BJP had rejected the autonomy resolution and even tore it up. Why is that resolution being discussed again in today’s resolution?” Sharma said.
He also questioned the Congress party’s position on the autonomy resolution and Article 370, asking it to clarify whether it stood with the resolutions or the government.
“Congress should clear its position, from Rahul Gandhi to the State Chief of Congress. Is it with this resolution? Is it with the pre-1953 resolution? Is it with the resolution of 370, or is it with the government?” he said.
Sharma also questioned Omar Abdullah’s position, pointing out that he was a minister in the NDA government led by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee when the autonomy resolution was rejected. “When the BJP rejected and tore up this resolution, wasn’t Omar Abdullah a minister in the NDA at that time? Didn’t he continue as a partner of the NDA?” he asked.
The LoP said the government is using the statehood issue to divert attention from governance-related issues, while asserting that the BJP was ready for a debate on statehood. “If you want to debate statehood, we challenge you. We are ready to debate on statehood. But you want to make Kashmir a fool in the name of statehood,” Sharma said.
He further alleged that the government is using the statehood issue to “hide its failures” and prolong its restoration. “The BJP rejects this resolution. The so-called autonomy and the resolution of 370 and we will not allow debate on this issue,” he said.
LoP Sharma said the BJP would continue its protest until the Congress clarified its position on Article 370 and the autonomy resolution and the government answered its questions.—(KNO)
