Jammu, Oct 4 (KNS): National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Sunday alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre had degraded the historic state of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory and deprived its people of political rights, dignity and their special identity.

In a statement issued, , Sadhotra said the continued denial of full statehood and the system of dual control had created difficulties for people and affected development, economic activity and effective governance.

He said J&K had a distinctive political history and its people had the right to seek restoration of the status they enjoyed before the August 2019 decisions.

“The people of J&K are not asking for anything extraordinary. They are seeking restoration of their democratic and constitutional rights and adequate powers to the elected government to serve the people,” he said.

Sadhotra said the absence of full statehood had created a disconnect between the elected government and the administrative machinery, making responsibility and accountability difficult to fix.

“Development requires clarity of responsibility, investment requires confidence, and governance requires accountability. A system in which the elected government does not have adequate powers cannot fully respond to the aspirations of the people,” he said.

Referring to the 2024 Assembly elections, Sadhotra said the people of Jammu had given the BJP 29 seats expecting its representatives to use their political influence to press the Centre for restoration of full statehood.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

“But the people soon realised that the mandate they gave in good faith was not being used to protect their interests. Instead of acting as the voice of Jammu before the Centre, BJP representatives have remained silent when J&K’s statehood and political rights are at stake,” he alleged.

He said the mandate given by the people was a responsibility to speak for them and safeguard their interests.

Sadhotra said the National Conference remained committed to democratic institutions, restoration of full statehood and protection of the political, economic and social interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He urged party workers to remain connected with the people, listen to their grievances and highlight what he described as the BJP’s failure to fulfil its commitments on restoration of statehood.

He said the demand for restoration of statehood was not merely a political slogan but a legitimate democratic demand, which the National Conference would continue to pursue through constitutional and democratic means.

Those present included former corporator Ghar Singh, Rakesh Sharma, Tilak Raj Bhagat, Vishawjeet Singh Samyal, Veer Ji Bhat, Kamla Rani, Santosh Rani, Ravi Sharma, former sarpanch Faquir Chand, Rajinder Singh, Capt Prem Singh Bhau, Madan Lal, Poonam Sharma and Neha Kumari.(KNS)