SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, Nov 7: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, criticized the National Conference (NC) on Thursday, accusing the party of “misleading Kashmiris” in the name of Article 370. Sharma asserted that the NC is promoting an illusion by pushing for the reinstatement of a provision that was constitutionally rendered obsolete, causing unnecessary public unrest.
In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Despatch’s senior correspondent, Suhail Khan, Sharma expressed his disapproval of the NC’s approach, claiming that the recent resolution brought forward by the NC on Article 370 is part of a “deceptive campaign” meant to stir Kashmiris and exploit their sentiments. “The National Conference is attempting to mislead Kashmiris by introducing a resolution in the Assembly that is based on outdated provisions and false promises,” Sharma stated firmly. “We will not allow such manipulation in the name of a special status that no longer exists in the Constitution.”
Sharma underscored that Article 370, which once granted Jammu and Kashmir a degree of autonomy, was a temporary provision that expired on August 5, 2019, when the Indian government fully integrated the region under the national framework. “The NC continues to talk about ‘special status,’ but they are misleading the public on a concept that has been constitutionally settled. It no longer has any existence in the Indian Constitution,” he emphasized.
The BJP leader went further, challenging Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to a debate, urging him to read the Indian Constitution thoroughly. “I openly challenge Omar Abdullah to go through the Constitution and then come debate with me on the so-called special status,” Sharma remarked, adding that he is ready to clarify any misinterpretations of the law.
Sharma also questioned the conduct of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, whom he referred to as the “NC Speaker,” implying a bias towards the ruling party. He reminded Rather that Article 370 was a temporary provision that legally ended in 2019. “The Assembly is not above Parliament,” he asserted. “Both the Supreme Court and Parliament have already settled this issue, so what remains to discuss?”
In his critique, Sharma also touched on the darker history associated with Article 370, questioning whether the NC’s reference to “special status” includes past events like the forced migration of Kashmiri Pandits and the tragic killings of ordinary Kashmiri civilians, such as Tufail Matoo and Haji Yousuf Shah. “Is this the ‘special status’ they want to restore?” he asked pointedly.
According to Sharma, the NC has no real solutions for the people’s needs and instead uses Article 370 to draw attention away from essential issues. “The NC won votes on promises of electricity, water, roads, and other development work. Yet, here they are, pushing for divisive politics instead of addressing the people’s pressing needs,” he stated.
Sharma also criticized the NC’s political maneuvering within the assembly, noting that although the session agenda included pressing development issues and a vote of thanks, the NC unexpectedly introduced a resolution on Article 370, sidestepping the people’s needs for their own political gains.
He concluded by condemning the NC’s tactics, suggesting that by focusing on Article 370, the party aims to incite unrest and potentially bring the youth of Kashmir back to a cycle of street protests and violence. “The NC’s sole mission appears to be to exploit Article 370 for political mileage, pushing Kashmiris into turmoil while neglecting the development issues they were elected to address,” Sharma added sternly.
