 Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: Union Minister Jitendra Singh attended a BJP state office-bearers meeting in Srinagar on Sunday, where party leaders discussed public issues and their strategy ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session. Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, said the meeting brought together BJP office-bearers from different regions of the Union Territory to deliberate on issues concerning the public. He also slammed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, claiming that theCM "does not like the opposition".
"The BJP meeting taking place here today is extremely important. We have invited party office-bearers from every region of Jammu and Kashmir to discuss the public issues that will be raised during the upcoming assembly session. We will deliberate on these public concerns as well as the party's overall strategy here," Sharma said.
Commenting on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Sharma said the BJP would present its role and work before the people and the Assembly.
"Omar Abdullah spoke yesterday, and I welcome that, please ask whatever you wish. We will present our role and our work before you. It is certainly true that the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir does not like the opposition," he said.
The BJP meeting comes ahead of the Assembly session, with the party expected to raise issues concerning governance and public welfare during the proceedings.
J&K Waqf Board Chairperson and Minister of State Syed Darakhshan Andrabi also defended the role of the opposition while criticising its response to the government's work.
"The opposition is never happy when someone works hard. The opposition will naturally do its job; there is no point in trying to stop them, and the role of the opposition-whether in Parliament or the Assembly-will always persist. However, the way India has progressed under PM Modi's leadership over the past twelve or thirteen years is no secret; the opposition simply cannot digest this success," Andrabi said.
On US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor's recent remarks that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India, Andrabi said the people of the region were content with their association with the country
"Pakistan always has one issue or another. But as for our Kashmir, we are happy being with India and we always have been... Now that Article 370 has been revoked, the situation here has normalized, and people are moving forward happily. If they want to keep harping on the same old tune, let them," she said.
The BJP has been preparing its organisational strategy in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the Assembly proceedings, with party leaders focusing on issues they intend to raise in the House and among the public.
(Agencies) |
