Srinagar, Sep 2: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday stepped up its attack on the Omar Abdullah-led government, with party leaders and workers staging a protest in Srinagar over unemployment, electricity tariffs, alleged corruption and other governance issues.
The protesters assembled at the Clock Tower in Lal Chowk before planning to march towards the Civil Secretariat. Security was tightened along the route, with the road from Hari Singh High Street towards the Secretariat closed and police and paramilitary personnel deployed in strength.
The protest was led by BJP J&K president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma and Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Sunil Sharma, along with other senior party leaders.
BJP raises unemployment, electricity tariff concerns
Addressing reporters during the protest, Sunil Sharma said the mobilisation reflected public dissatisfaction with what he described as the failures of the National Conference-led government.
He cited issues including electricity, water, roads and unemployment, particularly concerns among young people over government recruitment.
Sharma also alleged that outsourcing of government jobs was affecting employment opportunities for youth and criticised the government’s handling of recruitment.
He further targeted the recent increase in electricity tariffs, saying the decision had added to the burden on ordinary consumers. The revised electricity tariff came into effect in Jammu and Kashmir from September 1.
Sharma challenges Omar Abdullah over statehood
Sharma also stepped up his criticism of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the National Conference’s position on statehood.
He challenged Abdullah to resign and seek a fresh mandate from the people specifically on the issue of statehood, arguing that the National Conference had sought votes in the Assembly elections on a broader set of promises.
“If Mr Omar Abdullah has even a little bit of dignity left, then come and fight the elections on statehood,” Sharma said, according to reports.
The BJP leader also questioned the government’s handling of employment and accused it of diverting attention from issues affecting young people.
NC announces counter-protest
The BJP’s protest comes amid a parallel mobilisation by the ruling National Conference.
The NC has announced peaceful protests outside BJP offices in Srinagar and Jammu, demanding accountability from the Union government over commitments made in Parliament and before the Supreme Court.
In Srinagar, NC workers were asked to assemble at Gindun Park near Police Station Rajbagh before proceeding with the protest.
The party has listed restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, constitutional guarantees, clearance of the reservation file and justice for the people among its key demands.
The rival protests have brought the political differences between the BJP and the National Conference into sharper focus ahead of the upcoming Assembly session, with both parties seeking to put employment, governance, electricity and statehood at the centre of the political debate.
