Jammu | Reporter: Police Darpan
Senior BJP leader and MLA Sham Lal Sharma on Friday criticised the National Conference-Congress government in Jammu and Kashmir over the recently passed Assembly resolution seeking the restoration of full statehood. Speaking at a press conference in Jammu, Sharma alleged that the government was exceeding its constitutional authority by including references to earlier Assembly resolutions related to autonomy and the pre-1953 constitutional arrangement.
Sharma claimed that the resolution went beyond the demand for statehood and raised questions about issues that, according to him, fall under the jurisdiction of Parliament and the Supreme Court. He said the BJP believes an elected Union Territory government cannot claim powers beyond the constitutional framework established by Parliament.
The BJP leader also questioned the conduct of the Assembly proceedings, alleging that the resolution was introduced without following proper legislative procedures. He further accused the Speaker of not ensuring the sanctity and rule-based functioning of the House during the ongoing Assembly session.
Sharma urged the Union Home Minister to examine the developments in the Assembly, arguing that the government had crossed its constitutional limits. He also sought clarification from the Congress leadership regarding its support for the resolution and its references to earlier autonomy-related resolutions.
At the same time, Sharma reiterated that the BJP supports the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir through the appropriate constitutional process. However, he maintained that the party opposes any move it believes links the statehood demand with issues concerning autonomy or the pre-1953 constitutional framework.
The NC-Congress government has presented the resolution as a demand for the early restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, while the BJP has publicly challenged its scope and constitutional implications.
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