Jammu Nov 11: The Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Monday slammed the BJP for snatching the rights of people in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at the National Conference Workers’ Conference here at Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan, Choudhary criticized the BJP for its failure to fulfill its promise for restoration of statehood to J&K.

He said that BJP Govt has bifurcated the princely state into Union Territories, snatching the Special Status of this princely state.

Choudhary reiterated NC’s unwavering commitment to restoring J&K’s special status and statehood, stating that these measures are essential for preserving the unique identity and interests of the J&K people.

He emphasized that, as promised by Omar Abdullah, the NC government had passed a resolution for statehood restoration in its first Cabinet meeting. “We also passed a resolution in the Legislative Assembly to initiate dialogue on restoring the special status of J&K, Choudhary strongly condemned the misbehavior and Drama Baji of BJP MLA’s in the Assembly,” he said.

This resolution is a step towards reversing the injustice done by the Central Govt as it witnessed the unilateral revocation of our special status. That this resolution rekindles hope for the people of J&K special in securing our land, jobs rights, and dignity which are at risk without special status, he added.

He further pointed out that eleven states, including Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, northeast states enjoy similar protections, and then why the BJP had denied these rights to J&K.

“Jammu and Kashmir urgently needs similar protections to safeguard its land and job rights, dire need to protect our resources and shield itself from exploitative elements, such as the liquor mafia, mining mafia, and contractors from outside,” he stated.

Choudhary reaffirmed that the National Conference remains committed to advocating for the aspirations of J&K’s people, promising that the party will continue to fight for justice, the rights of the people, and their dignity.

“Our government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is committed to addressing the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. We are dedicated to fulfilling our promises and working tirelessly to restore J&K’s identity and honor,” Choudhary affirmed.

Addressing the gathering, Minister for Food Supply and Transport Satish Sharma commended Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his commitment to inclusive governance, ensuring equal representation for the people of the Jammu region.

He highlighted the enduring contributions of Sheikh Abdullah and Dr. Farooq Abdullah, whose vision has shaped the political and social landscape of Jammu and Kashmir.

“The people of the Jammu region have consistently supported our cause for the restoration of full statehood to J&K. Together, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of this objective,” he remarked. Sharma further said that restoration of special status is a must for our generations to come.

The conference was organised to discuss critical issues like the restoration of statehood and special status to protect the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Workers Conference was presided over by Rattan Lal Gupta Provincial President Jammu Province JKNC.

Gupta, Provincial President of JKNC, earlier delivered the welcome address, highlighting the hardships endured by the people over the past decade due to the anti-people policies of the BJP Govt.

He praised Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary for his historic resolution in the Assembly, which aims to initiate dialogue on restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s special status as a means to protect the rights of its people.

“This resolution is a milestone in our journey to reclaim the rights and dignity of the people of J&K,” he said.

UNI