Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir have criticized Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha’s address in the legislative assembly for not mentioning the abrogation of Article 370 or its potential restoration. Sinha’s speech, delivered at the opening of the first Budget Session, was scripted by the government and acknowledged demands for statehood, but omitted any reference to Article 370 and Article 35A.
People’s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti expressed disappointment, stating that the speech offered nothing new and failed to address the aspirations of the people. She accused the National Conference-led government of acting as an “extension of BJP’s agenda” in Jammu and Kashmir.
Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone also criticized the speech, saying it could have been a BJP speech and that the National Conference’s stance on Article 370 had shifted after coming to power. He dismissed the LG’s address as “visionless” and predicted that bureaucrats would continue to run the administration.
The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly began its first Budget Session on Monday, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah set to present the budget statement.
