Srinagar, July 19(KNS): BJP J&K spokespersons Altaf Thakur and Zorawar Singh on Sunday accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of "abandoning his own political campaign" by skipping the National Conference's Jantar Mantar protest in New Delhi while leaving the responsibility to party president Dr Farooq Abdullah citing flood review as an excuse.
Thakur and Singh in a joint statement said Omar Abdullah cited the need to monitor the flood situation in Rajouri and Poonch, but questioned why the Chief Minister announced and publicised the protest in the first place if he had no intention of leading it. They said why Omar wasn't bothered about flood review in September last year in Jammu.
"Statehood is not restored through symbolic protests at Jantar Mantar or political theatrics. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve governance, not headline management," Thakur said.
He alleged that the National Conference was attempting to divert public attention from issues relating to governance, unemployment, development and public service delivery.
"The Chief Minister cannot outsource political accountability to Dr Farooq Abdullah while remaining absent himself. If the issue is so important, the Chief Minister should have led the delegation instead of finding excuses at the last moment," they said. They said not political party has supported NC's Jantar Mantar protest, which is a big slap on party's face.
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BJP spokesperson Zorawar Singh also criticised the National Conference, saying the party was trying to "mislead the people by creating the impression that street protests can secure constitutional decisions."
"Statehood is a matter to be decided through constitutional and parliamentary processes.
No amount of sloganeering at Jantar Mantar can substitute meaningful dialogue, administrative performance and cooperation with the Centre," Singh said.
He further said that if Omar Abdullah genuinely believed monitoring the flood situation in Rajouri and Poonch was his priority, the National Conference should not have attempted to convert the statehood issue into a political spectacle.
"The people expect the Chief Minister to govern, deliver on promises and address public grievances rather than indulge in political symbolism. Jammu and Kashmir needs development, employment, investment and effective administration, not photo-op politics," Singh added.
The BJP leaders maintained that their party remains committed to the welfare and development of Jammu and Kashmir and said constitutional matters should be pursued through institutional mechanisms rather than "politically motivated demonstrations."(KNS).