SRINAGAR, September 18, 2026 – Launching a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation, Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma alleged that the Abdullah family is demanding the restoration of statehood merely to revive their “lost kingdom” and regain the power to impose draconian laws. Speaking to reporters during a public outreach event in Anantnag district on Thursday, Sharma asserted that the common people of Jammu and Kashmir are not concerned about statehood, as their primary focus remains on development and daily survival. He claimed that the National Conference leadership wants statehood specifically to hold the “stick of authority,” allowing them to impose the Public Safety Act (PSA) and authorise the firing of bullets at the chests of the region’s youth.
Broadening his critique, Sharma also took strong exception to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remarks advising the leadership of Ladakh against relying on the Centre’s verbal assurances. The LoP asked the Chief Minister to stop acting as a “spokesperson” or a “big brother” for Ladakh, reminding him that the people of Ladakh had actively sought separation from Jammu and Kashmir during the National Conference’s previous tenure in power. Sharma urged Abdullah to prioritize and resolve the severe distress and pressing issues confronting the residents of Jammu and Kashmir before attempting to show sympathy for neighbouring territories.
Addressing the upcoming session of the Legislative Assembly, the BJP leader declared that his party is fully prepared to hold the government accountable for its promises and will not remain silent while the public suffers. He criticized the administration’s frequent excuse of lacking authority, insisting that the government must now deliver on development rather than peddling outdated narratives about separatism or Pakistan. Furthermore, Sharma accused Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather of being “biased” and actively shielding the government by limiting the session to just six days. Arguing that such a brief period is grossly insufficient to address the myriad issues of 90 constituencies—ranging from electricity and water to the regularization of daily wagers and NHM employees—the LoP demanded that a comprehensive 30-day session be convened to ensure meaningful, daily debates on public grievances.
Published by True Roots Media Network