JAMMU: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Monday said that the continued delay in the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood is hampering its holistic development and suppressing the aspirations of its people.
Addressing a day-long workers’ convention of Jammu Rural District ‘A’, Sadhotra said, “Statehood is not just a political status — it is integral to the dignity, identity and self-respect of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Stripping it away and turning the region into a Union Territory has diminished its historic stature and alienated the population.”
The convention, held under the chairmanship of District President Raghubir Singh Manhas, witnessed wide participation from party functionaries and workers.
Sadhotra criticised the absence of an elected government in the region for over five years, saying it had led to a democratic vacuum and stagnated progress, especially on youth-centric development and employment.
“Governance from a distance cannot replace the empowerment of locally elected governments accountable to the people. Now that the people have chosen a government under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, it must be allowed to function freely and as per public aspirations,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the growing unemployment in the region. Recalling the National Conference’s earlier initiatives, Sadhotra said that under the leadership of Dr Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, special police recruitment drives were held for youth in border and hilly areas. He called for similar employment-focused initiatives to be revived.
Reiterating the NC’s commitment to the holistic development of the region, Sadhotra said the party stood for inclusive progress, youth empowerment, peace, and the restoration of the constitutional and democratic rights of the people.
Speaking on the occasion, NC Provincial Secretary Ayoub Malik urged party workers to increase their grassroots outreach to inform people about the programmes and policies of the NC-led government and its efforts toward implementing the party manifesto.
Several youth formally joined the National Conference during the convention and were welcomed by the party leadership.
In an important organisational announcement, Ved Prakash Sharma was appointed as the organiser for the Jammu North Assembly Constituency. He will be tasked with preparing the party for upcoming ward, Sarpanch, and Panchayat elections. A committee of 11 members will assist him in candidate identification and mobilisation across the general, SC, ST, OBC, and women categories.
Sadhotra congratulated Sharma on his new role, expressing hope that his commitment would further strengthen the party’s grassroots presence. -(KL)
