Jammu, Feb 02: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para launched a sharp attack on the Centre on Monday alleged a “glaring absence” of any commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in the Union Territory’s budget and accused the administration of parroting a “uniform narrative” of the BJP.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener on the sidelines of the Budget session’s opening day here, the Pulwama MLA asserted there was “no difference” between the current bureaucratic setup and an elected government in J&K.
Para claimed a singular narrative was being followed by everyone, “from the 50 MLAs to the Lieutenant Governor,” which was aimed at “appeasing the BJP.”
Training his guns on the budget document, the PDP leader said, “Earlier, there was a compromise at ₹370. Now, even the words ‘statehood’ are not in this document.” He alleged the budget lacked vision and concrete measures for the unemployed and daily wagers.
He further accused the J&K administration of having “completely surrendered” to the BJP’s agenda.
Addressing the growing demands from some Jammu-based groups for separate statehood or further bifurcation of the region, Para termed it a diversionary tactic.
“BJP’s politics is hatred, hate… How many more divisions will they do?” he questioned. “First, give us back the state that you have taken from us. First, give statehood to J&K, and then make as many states as you want.”
He insisted the core issue of what happened on August 5, 2019—a reference to the abrogation of Article 370—was being diluted by such debates. While acknowledging the need for administrative decentralization, he stressed the political question of restoration must be addressed first.
Para also endorsed National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah’s recent characterization of bifurcation talks as a “Dixonian” policy of division.
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