Says opposition will raise the voices of the poor; alleges corruption and unemployment have reached alarming levels in J&K
Suhail Khan
Baramulla, Sep 16: Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma on Wednesday said the opposition will raise the voices of the poor and common people in the upcoming Assembly session, alleging that corruption and unemployment have reached alarming levels in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sunil Sharma, who was in Baramulla as part of his party’s pre-session outreach programme, said the legislative group had decided to visit every district headquarters to listen to people’s problems ahead of the session.
“A lot of people have come from North Kashmir with their issues. Our legislative group has decided that before this Assembly session, we will go to every district headquarters and listen to the problems of the people. Today we have come to Baramulla. People have come from different sections here,” Sharma told reporters.
“This is purely unpolitical. We will not call this a political meeting. We have come here to listen to the problems of the people and raise them in the concerned quarters,” he added.
On the BJP’s stance in the Assembly session, Sharma said, “The opposition has to raise the voices of the poor. Especially now, corruption has crossed many levels. Unemployed youth are in distress because they are being deprived of jobs in the name of outsourcing.”
“And by not having a municipal election, thousands of crores of rupees are not being invested on the ground. Electricity rent has been increased and the burden has been placed on the poor. There are all such issues. There are issues of deliveries. There are issues of NHM. There are issues of Anganwadi. There are many common issues,” he said.
“The BJP is the principal opposition party. We will raise these issues in the Assembly. Unfortunately, the government has adopted only one slogan — corruption, corruption, corruption,” he alleged.
Asked about the problems faced by the delegations that met him, Sunil Sharma said, “All these problems are related to governance. I have not seen any big storm. There are small issues — some about the bridge, some about the road, some about tourism, some about water. Basic amenities are related to all these issues. There will be common issues too.”
Notably, the BJP leader’s visit comes ahead of the Assembly session, with the opposition signalling its intent to corner the government on issues of governance, employment, and civic infrastructure.
