JAMMU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday staged a protest in Jammu against the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government, accusing it of failing to fulfil its election promises and pushing Jammu and Kashmir into what it termed a phase of administrative paralysis.
The protest began from Dogra Chowk near Press Club, Maheshpura Chowk in Bakshi Nagar and near Radio Station, Panjtirthi, with party workers marching towards Indira Chowk before proceeding to the Civil Secretariat, where they were stopped by police.
Led by J&K BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, the demonstration was attended by senior party leaders, legislators and workers. Protesters raised slogans against the government and burnt effigies at multiple locations.
Addressing the gathering, BJP leaders accused the National Conference government of failing to deliver on commitments made to the public and urged it to focus on governance and development.
Sat Sharma alleged that the government had failed to address issues related to roads, power supply, drinking water, employment and public services. He said the BJP would continue to raise public issues and intensify its democratic agitation if governance concerns remained unaddressed.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma accused the government of neglecting public concerns and said various sections of society, including youth, farmers, traders and employees, were dissatisfied with its performance. He warned that public resentment could translate into a stronger democratic movement if corrective measures were not taken.
Lok Sabha MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said the BJP would continue to highlight what it described as the shortcomings of the present dispensation and support public demands for development and better governance.
Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana urged the government to focus on governance rather than political rhetoric, while former deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh alleged that the administration had failed to meet public expectations across regions and sectors.
Several BJP leaders, including legislators and office-bearers, participated in the protest and addressed gatherings at different locations.
