“Mufti’s unity letter is drama, childish act”
Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, June 2 Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma today said that the National Conference’s meeting of legislators and allies, scheduled this week, is not a routine political meeting but a “floor test” being conducted by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah because of growing dissatisfaction within the ruling coalition.
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Speaking to reporters here, the BJP leader said that the Chief Minister was worried about his support within the alliance and had called the meeting. “Tomorrow’s meeting is not a meeting. It is a floor test. A floor test is usually held in the Assembly, but Omar Abdullah is doing it outside the Assembly. There is a no-confidence motion. He gets no confidence in his dreams and then releases a letter in the morning,” he added.
He said Omar Abdullah was trying to count support from allies and Independent legislators. “Call the Independents. Call the allies. Count them. Remember, they are only counting numbers there,” he said.
Sharma said that the meeting has only one purpose. “There is no agenda for the meeting. There is a single agenda – floor test. They will do it again next month. They will do dramas, cry, dance, sing devotional songs and try every formula to keep MLAs together,” he said.
The LoP rejected allegations that the BJP was trying to topple the Government and said the ruling alliance was facing internal problems. “Why should I break the Government? I do not need to break the Government,” he said.
“For the last one month, statements have been coming out showing that some MLAs are unhappy. These MLAs are dissatisfied and fight with their ministers every day,” he added.
Asked about PDP president Mehbooba Mufti’s letter to regional leaders, including Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, seeking a united “Ladakh-like” outreach to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for dialogue with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma dismissed the move as “drama.”
The BJP leader said the proposed unity among regional parties had no purpose. “On one side there is a prince of one family and on the other side a princess of another family. How many times will they fool people? What are they going to do? There is no head and no tail to this exercise,” he said.
He claimed that people in Kashmir had rejected such politics. “Kashmir has rejected it. People are silent because they have no expectations from anyone,” he said.
When asked whether there was a need for unity on issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir, Sharma said people already enjoy equal rights after the abrogation of Article 370.
“After Article 370, Narendra Modi gave equality. The rights available in Tamil Nadu are available here as well. Before that, people were deprived of rights,” he said.
He said that restoration of statehood remains the BJP’s agenda and not that of regional parties. “Statehood is the agenda of the BJP. We will implement it. Statehood will come. It will come without them and without this so-called unity,” he said.
The LoP also alleged that previous Governments led by regional parties were responsible for killings and human rights violations in Kashmir.
Referring to incidents during previous administrations, he claimed that leaders who are now demanding statehood had earlier been in charge of law and order when civilians and youths were killed. “What do these people want to do with statehood? They want power again. We do not want to hand over statehood to those who used power against people,” he said.
The LoP also criticized the newly proposed opposition unity initiative, comparing it with the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration. “Earlier there was the Gupkar gang. Now there is a new drama called unity. What is this new unity? It is a theatrical drama,” he said.
Targeting the Congress, Sharma claimed the party lacked an independent identity in Jammu and Kashmir and functioned under the influence of the National Conference. “Congress has no party here. Look at its history. It has always acted as a puppet of the National Conference,” he said.
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