JAMMU JUNE 17 (KNS):   Former Minister and Senior National Conference leader Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today assailed the BJP for denial of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir by not holding much awaited and long due elections to the Legislative Assembly, fearing imminent defeat and backlash of the people.

In a press statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Sadhotra said the BJP leadership has sensed the public mood and overwhelming anger even in its restricted so-called core constituency owing to antipeople policies and failure on all fronts in the past nine years, which is why the party is shying away in facing the electorate.

He said Jammu and Kashmir has borne the brunt of the BJP’s authoritarian rule in terms of repeal of Articles 370 and 35A that has not only deprived the bonafide residents of their constitutional rights on jobs and lands but also downgraded the biggest Maharaja’s State as a Union Territory. This is not what even some die-hard BJP cadres in Jammu had dreamt of despite their preliminary euphoria over the August 2019 political developments. They too are now annoyed and openly criticizing the party leadership for relegating J&K to an embarrassing status where nothing but a dark future is haunting the residents, especially the youth, he said.

Mr Sadhotra took the BJP head on for failing in restoring the statehood to Jammu and Kashmir despite making a commitment in Parliament. This reflects its colonial mindset and lack of political understanding. He said the insensitivity being shown towards the people could prove counterproductive and further alienate them from the national mainstream. Such a regressive tendency is against the federal structure of the country and detrimental to people’s right to decision making as per true democratic spirit, he maintained. Counting the failures of the BJP Double Engine Government in ensuring development and smooth functioning of various utility services, Mr Sadhotra referred to the obtaining erratic power and drinking water supply in Jammu during these scorching summers and said this is the worst example of irresponsible and unaccountable government. The people have virtually been left to fend for themselves. The development remains restricted to government propaganda as nothing is visible on ground.

Sadhotra also referred to obstructions in the rights’ of young students in pursuing higher education by exposing them to national level CUET and that too at the centres set up outside Jammu and Kashmir. The government owes an explanation to thousands of parents and the students in the logic behind such an illogical move and compensate those who had to undertake travels for appearing in the test. This will block the scope of poor common students to go for higher studies after passing 12th class, he said. He also dwelt upon elaborately on the burgeoning unemployment problem, scams, and scandals in the recruitment process, rising prices of essentials, saying the BJP Double Engine government has subjected the people of Jammu and Kashmir to a lot of miseries over the years.(KNS)