LoP Sharma calls CM ‘political SRO 43 beneficiary’

Srinagar, Sep 16: Describing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as “political SRO 43 beneficiary,” Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma on Wednesday questioned his political standing without the Abdullah family name.

Talking to the reporters here, LoP Sharma, took a swipe at CM Omar saying, “The Chief Minister considers himself a prince while I belong to a middle-class background. Why should he respond to my queries?”

Sharma then described CM Omar as a “political SRO 43 beneficiary” and questioned his political standing without the Abdullah family name.

He also accused the Abdullah family of being “power hungry” and referred to the political history of the National Conference, including late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Dr Farooq Abdullah.

He blamed National Conference government of using the Statehood issue to divert attention from governance failures. “The government should focus on issues affecting people instead of using Statehood as a shield against questions on governance.”

“Let them pave the way for us. We will show how to work. It is they who have the work, not us, as we are in the Opposition,” Sharma said.

Sharma also questioned the decision to hold the forthcoming Assembly session for seven sittings, says the Assembly has to address issues from all 90 constituencies and questioned whether seven sittings would provide adequate time for the purpose.

“If the Speaker puts his hand on his heart and assures that they can hear the issues of 90 constituencies in just seven sittings, I will consider myself a liar,” he said.

On local body elections, Sharma accused the NC of changing their position on elections.

He said the party has repeatedly accused the Centre of delaying Assembly elections in the past, while the National Conference was now questioning the need for Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections.

Sharma said the government should facilitate the conduct of Panchayat and ULB elections and alleged that the delay was affecting the implementation of funds from the Centre.

On the possibility of another BJP-PDP alliance, Sharma said political circumstances had led to the formation of the coalition government in 2014. He said the BJP had entered the arrangement without compromising its core ideals and with the stated objective of providing governance to people.

“Sometimes circumstances evolve things. In 2014, the composition was such and we agreed. We formed the government for the people and for convenience, but it does not mean we will join hands with them to loot people,” Sharma said.

He said the PDP was not right in 2014 and maintained that his party continued to hold the same position. He also alleged that corruption levels had increased and that the youth were distressed.

The LoP also criticized the government over electricity prices, saying people had been burdened by higher power costs. He cited issues concerning NHM workers, daily wagers and Anganwadi workers, and said these matters would also be raised by the Opposition.

The LoP said the government had failed to adequately address several public concerns and reiterated that the Opposition would continue to raise what he described as genuine demands during the Assembly session.