Happy that CM toeing BJP line: LoP

Jammu, Mar 25: Leader of the Opposition in J&K Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma Tuesday said he was happy that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was “toeing BJP line” on statehood.

He was responding to media queries outside the House about the Chief Minister’s statement made as an intervention in the House during the consideration and passage of Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act, 2017 (L A Bill No 1 of 2025) in the Legislative Assembly.

“I want to greet and also extend gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for following the BJP agenda. Today he toed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) line; he raised and endorsed our (BJP’s) slogan. What else will be greater and happier news for us? We have always maintained that we will grant statehood. Today he is saying – this is what they want. It simply means that he is toeing our agenda (line),” Sharma said.

He said, “Their (NC) agenda was full of lies and deceit viz 200 units free electricity; free 10 kg ration; promises related to employment, pension and above all – deceitful posturing related to Article 370. They should talk about them. The BJP manifesto says – we will restore the statehood of J&K. Today he endorsed what we were saying.”

Sharma said that it was a welcome development.

“He (Omar) should continue to move forward in this direction, in line with the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the LoP said.

When his attention was sought towards the CM’s assertion that they (NC government) would get back statehood, for sure, Sharma said, “When did we deny? We will grant it, for sure as our leadership has committed. He is saying today that they will get it back. We made a commitment to it, six months back (in our manifesto). Today they have accepted the vision of the PM Modi.”

He said, “The highpoint is that there is a concept of economic integration. Today through the GST amendment bill, economic integration, as envisioned by the PM Modi, has been accepted by CM Omar Abdullah. We welcome it. If he continues to work like that, BJP will wholeheartedly support him.”

In response to a question about People’s Conference MLA Sajad Lone’s walkout against what he had stated “ratification of UT” and abrogation of Article 370, the LoP said, “He was alone who had raked up this issue of Article 370 this way. His love for Pakistan is linked to his love for his -in-laws. This will not go away. This time only he won from his party. You never know that the people of Kashmir next time would rob him too of this (MLA) status also using their democratic (voting) right. Article 370 is deeply buried in history now. It will not come back.”