Atiya Mujeeb
Srinagar, May 23: Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Sunil Kumar Sharma, on Friday criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, alleging that he has remained away from the public while people across the Union Territory continue to struggle with basic civic issues.
In a video statement, Sharma claimed that several areas in Jammu and Kashmir were witnessing protests over shortages of electricity and drinking water, accusing the government of failing to address public grievances.
Taking a swipe at the chief minister, the BJP leader said that the people who brought Abdullah to power were now facing hardships, while he was allegedly absent from the ground situation for the past several days.
Sharma also referred to reports about Abdullah’s foreign visit and remarked that he was unsure whether the chief minister was in London or elsewhere abroad, but alleged that he was outside the country while residents continued to face difficulties at home.
The BJP leader further said that the party would soon approach the Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station to file a symbolic “missing report” regarding the chief minister’s absence from public affairs.
The remarks come amid a political row triggered by BJP posters on social media claiming Omar Abdullah had been “missing” since May 11. The controversy also gained attention following backlash over the recent demolition drive in Jammu’s Sidhra area, which affected Gujjar and Bakarwal families and sparked criticism from opposition parties and local communities.
