Says it hurt Dogra sentiments; calls LG’s job initiative for terror victims historic, humane
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Sunday called the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s recent decision to offer government jobs to the next of kin of terror victims a “historic and humane move” that brings long-awaited dignity and relief to hundreds of affected families across the Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference, Sharma said that the initiative taken under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has rekindled hope among those who had lost everything to terrorism over the past three decades.
“Since the 1990s, we have witnessed the horror of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Many families lost their sole breadwinners, and for years, no one came forward to help them. They lived in silence, hopelessness, and pain,” Sharma said.
“But today, under the leadership of LG Manoj Sinha, a lamp of hope has been lit in those very homes. Their sacrifices have been recognised. Their pain has not only been acknowledged but addressed with employment and support,” he said.
LoP said that in the last two weeks, hundreds of terror-affected families have received appointment letters as part of a fast-track documentation and verification process.
“Two major functions were held where these families were formally handed over their job orders. The scenes were emotional, full of gratitude, and deeply symbolic,” he said.
He added that this move marks a turning point for many households that had lost all hope. “After 35 years of turmoil, the government has taken the first sincere step toward healing. I congratulate the administration and LG Sinha for this initiative,” Sharma said.
He also appealed to the administration to ensure timely completion of all pending cases. “Many eligible families are still waiting in the pipeline. I hope and pray that they too receive jobs soon. The LG has already fixed a timeline and has assured that the remaining appointments will be completed within a month,” he said.
Calling it a “big step for Jammu and Kashmir,” Sharma said that recognising the pain of terror victims and turning that pain into policy is what good governance truly means. “It’s not just about employment but about dignity, acknowledgement, and justice,” he added.
He also questioned the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, for scaling the wall of the Martyrs’ graveyard here on July 14 and paying tributes to the martyrs of July 13.
LoP Sunil Sharma said the Chief Minister and his other colleagues scaled the wall to “play to the public galleries, although its gate was open.” He said the CM and his colleagues hurt the sentiments of Dogras in Jammu and incited separatism.
Sharma said Omar is the Chief Minister of all of Jammu and Kashmir, but he is “denigrating the chair of the post” by scaling the wall and fighting with the police.
“Why did Omar Abdullah scale the wall when its gate was open?” Sharma asked, pointing out his father, Farooq Abdullah; his minister, Sakeena Itoo; and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, who entered the graveyard through the gate.
Sharma stated that the chief minister hurt the sentiments of the people of the Jammu region on July 14, as July 13 is regarded as a revolt against Maharaja rule, and those who revolted were considered traitors. “Omar Sahib is projecting himself as the chief minister of the Kashmir region only by such acts. Hurting sentiments of Dogra Samaj and glorifying those traitors and hooligans,” he said.
Calling out the Congress demand of statehood as “exposing the falsehood of special status” of many INDIA alliance partners, including the National Conference, Sharma said the Congress statehood demand is in sync with that of the BJP.
“In the joint letter, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Parliament Rahul Gandhi have demanded restoration of statehood while not mentioning Article 370 or special status for Jammu and Kashmir. This corroborates Congress’s stand with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Statehood is our clear agenda, and the INDIA alliance is also raising the same demand,” he said.
