SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) Additional General Secretary and Rajya Sabha member Chowdry Mohammad Ramzan on Sunday alleged that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators were opposed to the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and were attempting to avoid a vote on the issue.
Addressing reporters, Ramzan said restoration of statehood had been a key promise in the NC’s election manifesto and claimed that the BJP had also pledged to restore statehood but was now seeking to retreat from that commitment.
His remarks came amid a political row over a resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory. According to Ramzan, the resolution is scheduled for discussion on Monday and could be put to a vote if required.
Responding to the BJP’s demand for dissolution of the Assembly, Ramzan questioned the basis for such a move and asserted that the present government was functioning effectively despite what he described as limited powers.
He also criticised the BJP’s objections to references to autonomy in the resolution, alleging that the party was attempting to create controversy over the issue. Ramzan claimed that when the National Conference government passed the Autonomy Resolution in the Assembly in 2000, several BJP legislators had supported it.
The NC leader further alleged that calls for dissolving the Assembly reflected political frustration within the BJP. He accused BJP legislators of focusing on divisive politics rather than addressing issues affecting their constituencies.
Ramzan reiterated that the National Conference remained committed to its stated goal of seeking restoration of both statehood and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
