Sakina, Karra, Para raise unemployment, statehood, reservation issues
Creating ruckus won’t resolve larger issues: DyCM
Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Feb 2: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, today described the J&K’s vision document as a “reflection of the Modi Government’s achievements in the region”, saying it largely reiterated the Union Government’s schemes without addressing the concerns and aspirations of the unemployed youth, women, and the elderly.
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Sunil also came heavily on the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference Government for ignoring the growing demand of establishing a National Law University in the Jammu region.
On this, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary said that creating ruckus would not resolve larger issues.
He rather sought response and clarity from the LoP, Sunil Sharma, on promised restoration of the Statehood in Jammu and Kashmir.
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“The BJP had promised restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the election campaign and should first clarify the status of that assurance rather than creating ruckus over the larger issues,” Choudhary said.
Meanwhile, sharing her views on the Union Budget, Minister for Education, Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo claimed that sectors like employment generation and health should have been prioritized in the Central Budget.
While Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President Tariq Hameed Karra also demanded that the statehood be restored at the earliest, PDP legislator Waheed ur Rehman Para blamed the Omar Abdullah Government for rebranding the Union Government’s schemes and achievements as theirs. He also termed the vision document as one without any will and vision.
Speaking with media persons, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Sunil Sharma, stated that the vision document is largely a repetition of schemes and policies announced and executed by the Union Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
While welcoming the fact that the J&K Government had openly praised the Union Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiatives, Sharma said the document failed to offer anything new or visionary for the people of the Union Territory.
He said that despite tall claims, the document did not adequately address the aspirations and challenges faced by youth, women and the elderly population.
According to him, a vision document should outline a clear future roadmap rather than merely compiling ongoing Central schemes under a new label.
Replying a question about the ongoing student protests demanding the establishment of a National Law University in Jammu, Sharma said the agitation was “genuine and justified.”
He clarified that the protest was not political in nature but related to issues of rights and access to education.
He said students from Jammu were being forced to go outside Jammu and Kashmir to pursue legal education, as studying in Kashmir was not feasible for many aspirants from the region.
Sharma strongly advocated the establishment of a similar law university in Jammu and said BJP legislators would raise the issue forcefully both in the Assembly and on the streets to press the government to act.
Earlier, BJP MLAs, led by Sharma, also joined Jammu University students during their protest, asserting that the issue would be pursued until a concrete decision was taken.
The Leader of Opposition also raised concerns over the Chashoti tragedy, stating that families of the deceased had not received adequate support.
He said 103 people had lost their lives in the incident, of which 72 to 73 bodies were recovered, while the rest were washed away.
Sharma acknowledged that there was a formal process for issuing death certificates but alleged that the administration was moving at a painfully slow pace.
He said relatives of the deceased were suffering immense hardship as they were unable to access benefits under various welfare schemes due to non-issuance of death certificates.
Sharma accused the administration of being insensitive to the pain and emotions of the affected families and demanded immediate issuance of death certificates so that relief and welfare benefits could reach them without further delay.
He said this issue would also be raised at all appropriate forums, including the Assembly.
Meanwhile, speaking on the inaugural day of the Budget Session, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, while reacting to the political developments, said Pakistan’s decision to boycott its ICC T20 World Cup match against India would have no impact on the country.
He asserted that politics should not be mixed with sports and said India had always opposed such interference.
“If Pakistan chooses not to play, it makes no difference to us. India is a large country and Pakistan’s decisions do not affect us,” Choudhary told reporters, adding that politics had historically damaged the spirit of sports wherever it intruded.
Responding to the BJP’s demand for an NLU in Jammu, the Deputy Chief Minister criticised the Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, saying that creating ruckus would not resolve larger issues confronting the Union Territory.
He said the BJP had promised restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the election campaign and should first clarify the status of that assurance.
“Jammu will truly benefit only when statehood is restored,” Choudhary said, adding that restoration of full statehood, protection of land rights and safeguarding employment opportunities for locals were the core concerns of the people.
The Deputy Chief Minister credited the Omar Abdullah-led Government for reviving economic activity in Jammu, citing the restoration of the Darbar Move.
He said markets, commercial establishments and overall business activity had witnessed improvement due to the revival of the traditional practice, which he said was discontinued during the BJP’s tenure in 2021.
Rejecting allegations of discrimination against Jammu, Choudhary said the revival of the Darbar Move reflected the Government’s balanced and inclusive approach, benefiting all sections of society in the region.
He also raised concerns over the absence of local Vice-Chancellors in universities across Jammu and Kashmir and urged political parties to focus on broader public issues instead of what he described as smaller, divisive matters.
Expressing hope for the upcoming budget, he said it should resemble a state budget rather than that of a Union Territory.
Choudhary pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir had faced severe unemployment over the past 11 years, compounded by major setbacks such as the 2025 floods and the Pahalgam terror attack, which badly affected tourism.
He said the Union Territory required a special economic package to overcome these challenges.
Minister for Education, Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo, while reacting to the Union Budget, said several crucial components were missing, particularly in the areas of employment generation and healthcare.
While acknowledging certain new initiatives, she said the budget fell short in addressing the scale of unemployment confronting the youth.
She stressed that employment must be treated as the top priority, warning that lack of job opportunities was pushing young people towards substance abuse and other social evils.
Sakina said gainful employment was the most effective tool to combat drug addiction and social decay.
The minister also expressed concern over the absence of concrete provisions for the health sector, despite Jammu and Kashmir facing an acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff.
She said the sector required urgent attention and sustained investment.
Sakina further raised the issue of loan waivers for Kisan Credit Card borrowers, saying farmers were under severe financial stress and needed immediate relief.
Adding to the debate, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee President and MLA Tariq Hameed Karra said the Centre had been liberally funding the Union Territory and this should be clearly reflected in the J&K budget.
He welcomed the finalisation of the transaction of business rules, saying it would help reduce administrative and political confusion.
However, Karra asserted that without restoration of statehood, confusion and uncertainty would continue.
He also criticised the countrywide SIR exercise, alleging it was being used for pre-poll manipulation, and said the Congress would oppose it strongly.
PDP legislator Waheed ur Rehman Para also launched a sharp attack on the vision document, calling it “visionless” and “disconnected from public concerns.”
He alleged that after one year in power, the Government had nothing substantial to offer unemployed youth and daily wage earners, as the document merely rebranded Central schemes.
Para said promises made to the public had not been fulfilled despite repeated budget speeches.
He alleged that issues such as release of political prisoners, reservation policy, governance reforms and transparent recruitment processes had been ignored.
He also questioned delays in recruitment, including open merit posts, and demanded clarity on when promised reforms would translate into action.
Referring to the National Law University issue, Para accused the BJP of promoting regional and communal polarisation in education.
He said the decision to establish an NLU was taken during Mehbooba Mufti’s tenure, initially in Baramulla and later shifted to Budgam through a resolution passed in the Assembly by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
He questioned whether institutions were being selectively demanded and warned against allowing education to become a tool of division.
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