Srinagar, Sept 21: Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma on Monday accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of failing to fulfil its promises and provide basic amenities to the people during its nearly two years in office.
Addressing reporters on the first day of the Autumn Session of the J&K Assembly, Sharma said people had high expectations from the government, particularly those who had been waiting for years for their grievances to be addressed.
“Even after two years, the only statement coming from this government and its head is that they do not have the powers and cannot do anything,” Sharma said.
He alleged that the government had failed to ensure adequate basic amenities, claiming that power tariffs had been increased despite inadequate electricity supply in several areas, while water supply issues also persisted. “Governance has failed on every front. Corruption is rampant,” he alleged, accusing ministers and officials of being involved in corrupt practices.
Sharma said the BJP would raise issues concerning daily wagers, NHM employees, ASHA and Anganwadi workers, besides the demand for age relaxation by J&K job aspirants, during the Assembly session.
He also raised the issue of around 70,000 depositors associated with SCOT Bank and Cooperative Citizen Bank, saying they were still awaiting payment despite an earlier commitment that their dues would be released within two months.
“The biggest betrayal, I believe, has been against the youth,” Sharma said, referring to unemployment and the one lakh jobs promised by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
He also alleged irregularities in the outsourcing process, claiming that National Conference workers and their relatives were being provided jobs in exchange for money. “The BJP has no objection to outsourcing, but the process should be conducted through a transparent recruitment mechanism based on fixed criteria,” he said.
Referring to around 25,000 jobs, Sharma alleged that the positions had already been filled and claimed that the government had misled the Assembly by stating that the appointments were made against vacancies.
On the issue of statehood, Sharma said that if every issue was being attributed to the absence of statehood, the existing administrative setup should be dissolved and the government should wait for the restoration of statehood. “The BJP will raise the voice of the people in the Assembly and will not allow their concerns to be ignored,” he said.
Asked about the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) report, Sharma said the BJP would study it before presenting its detailed position.
He alleged that several JJM schemes were becoming defunct and claimed that the report contained “major flaws”.
Sharma said the JJM report was scheduled to be presented in the House and should not have become the main issue for discussion on the first day of the session.
