New Delhi, July 10 (IANS) As National Conference (NC) President, Farooq Abdullah, reached out to INDIA bloc leaders and other political parties seeking support for the party’s proposed protest demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the BJP on Friday termed the move an attempt to divert attention from the party’s failures and unfulfilled promises.

The development comes days after J&K Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, intensified his demand for the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for the region ahead of the National Conference’s proposed protest in New Delhi on July 20.

Speaking to IANS, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh said, “This is nothing but an attempt to divert attention and hide their incompetence, failures, and inexperience. It is also an effort to cover up the unfulfilled promises made in their manifesto. The Gupkar gang is trying to revive a stale agenda. Abdullah Sahib should take out his manifesto and see for himself, not even a single promise has been fulfilled.”

BJP national spokesperson R.P. Singh said the National Conference was well within its democratic rights to stage a protest but maintained that the current situation in J&K was not conducive to restoring statehood.

He said, “Kashmir leaders are coming here to protest, and that is their democratic right. But at present, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is not such that statehood can be granted. The government is committed. When the right time comes, statehood will be restored.”

JD(U) National Spokesperson, Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, also reacted to the issue, saying that while the demand for statehood was democratic, the Union Territories had witnessed significant progress in recent years.

He said, “First of all, I would like to say that the situation in Kashmir has changed. The regions that now constitute the Union Territories have made significant progress in many respects. Their demand for the restoration of statehood is a democratic one, and every political party has the right to raise such demands.”

JD(U) Chief Spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said J&K had entered a new phase of development after the abrogation of Article 370.

He said, “After the abrogation of Article 370 and its approval by Parliament, Jammu and Kashmir has entered a new phase, with new avenues of development being established. I am not aware of the context of his letter. However, development is the real foundation, and the people there are experiencing its benefits. In our fight against terrorism, our soldiers continue to make the supreme sacrifice, and the entire nation stands firmly with them.”

Backing the National Conference’s outreach, Congress MP Jebi Mather said the party had every right to seek support from like-minded political parties.

She said, “It is their demand, which they have been raising consistently. This is a process of making their voice and demand heard, and strengthening their cause. They have written to multiple parties seeking support, which is what happens when we genuinely stand for an issue. We seek the support of other political parties as well to make our cause stronger.”

On Thursday, Farooq Abdullah wrote to members of the INDIA bloc, non-BJP national parties and several local leaders, including Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, seeking support for the party’s campaign demanding the restoration of statehood and constitutional rights for Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference has announced a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20, coinciding with the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Ahead of the demonstration, the party is also scheduled to hold public gatherings in Srinagar on July 11 and July 13 to mobilise support for its demand for the restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees.

J&K was reorganised into two Union Territories in 2019 after the Centre abrogated the special status granted under Article 370 of the Constitution.

–IANS

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