Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday came down heavily at the politicians who did not attend the Union Territory Foundation Day, saying their move to boycott it reflected their "dual character." Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his party National Conference were amongst those who did not participate in the J&K's Foundation Day.
While addressing at the event, LG Sinha said: "I am seeing that those who took oath as MLA of a Union Territory and often refer to the Constitution of India (are not here)". LG Sinha also called the five years of the UT "an era of peace, prosperity and development."
"The ground reality is that it is a UT today. When it will be made a state, and we want it to be a state, we will celebrate statehood foundation day as well. This shows their dual character," he added.
Besides National Conference, others who did not attend the event included People's Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone and CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami. Boycotting the Foundation Day, the leaders said the administration organised the programme despite people "clearly voting" against it, news agency PTI reported.
The erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was declared a Union Territory in 2019 after Article 370 that granted the state a special status was abrogated.
Sinha said: "Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory. We will have to accept that reality. The PM has said in the parliament and also the Home Minister that delimitation first, elections second, and then statehood at appropriate time."
Sinha said the the Panchayat and urban local bodies elections were deferred due to some constitutional issues. "The Panchayati Raj institutions and the ULBs have a big contribution in the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Due to some constitutional difficulties, those elections could not be held. There were Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and reservation for OBCs was not extended yet," he said.
"Now Parliament has passed it (OBC reservation), I am sure preparations are being made for those polls in coming days," he added.
National Conference leaders have been voicing their opposition to the UT Day, demanding a return to full statehood.
Claiming that J&K's status was taken away from the people in 2019, NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq stated that the party would not observe the UT Foundation Day because the party does not recognise Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory.
"We will never settle for Union Territory status. Our demand is firm: full statehood and the rightful status Jammu and Kashmir held before August 5, 2019," the JKNC spokesperson reiterated.
