Jammu, Sep 25 (KINS): Senior BJP leader and MLA Sham Lal Sharma, accompanied by party MLAs Dr. Narinder Singh, Ch. Vikram Randhawa, Yudhvir Sethi, Arvind Gupta and Surinder Bhagat, addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, on Friday, criticising the National Conference-Congress government over the statehood resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the ongoing autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Sharma alleged that the government was attempting to exceed its constitutional authority and challenge the powers of Parliament and the Supreme Court by incorporating references to autonomy, separate identity and the pre-1953 arrangement into the resolution.
The BJP leader pointed out that the resolution referred to Assembly resolutions passed on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024, alongside the demand for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharma criticised the conduct of the Assembly proceedings, alleging that the government and the Speaker had failed to ensure proper functioning of the House since the beginning of the session.
He accused the Speaker of providing what he described as a “safe passage” to the government instead of protecting the sanctity of the Assembly and following established parliamentary procedures.
The BJP leader questioned whether the Chief Minister’s resolution had been properly introduced in accordance with the prescribed rules and said the Speaker had a responsibility to uphold the rule book and maintain the dignity of the House.
Sharma further alleged that the government was attempting to divert public attention from governance-related issues by creating a political controversy. He reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to raising public concerns and pursuing what he described as positive politics for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Referring to the references to the 2000 Autonomy Resolution and the November 6, 2024, resolution, Sharma questioned why earlier resolutions had been incorporated into the present statehood resolution.
He argued that the references raised concerns about the revival of demands relating to greater autonomy, separate identity and the pre-1953 constitutional arrangement.
“The issue is not merely about the restoration of statehood but about the intent and political direction reflected through the references incorporated into today’s resolution,” Sharma said, according to the press release.
He questioned whether the NC-Congress government was attempting to challenge the authority of Parliament and the Supreme Court through resolutions passed by the J&K Assembly.
Sharma maintained that the elected government of Jammu and Kashmir could not claim powers superior to the constitutional institutions of the Union of India.
The BJP leader accused the Congress party of supporting the National Conference-led government in the matter and demanded that both the party’s Jammu and Kashmir leadership and its national leadership clarify their position on the resolution.
He said the Congress leadership was answerable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country regarding its stance on the references to earlier autonomy-related resolutions.
Sharma reiterated that the BJP supported the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir through the appropriate constitutional process. However, he alleged that the current resolution went beyond the statehood demand by including issues related to autonomy and the pre-1953 arrangement.
Sham Lal Sharma appealed to the Union Home Minister to consider the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir government.
He alleged that the government had crossed its constitutional limits by moving the resolution and claimed that its contents posed a threat to the sovereignty and integrity of India.
Sharma stated that the BJP would continue to raise public concerns, support the restoration of statehood through the constitutional process, and oppose any move that it believes could undermine the country’s constitutional unity and integrity.(KINS)
Sham Lal Sharma accuses NC-Congress Govt of overstepping constitutional limits over Statehood Resolution BJP leader demands clarity on Autonomy references, Appeals to Union Home Minister for action
