Sajad Lone Criticizes NC-Led Government for Ideological Overlap with BJP

Jammu: On the first day of the assembly session in Jammu, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) president Sajad Gani Lone launched a scathing attack on the National Conference-led administration, accusing it of ideological overlap with the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ).

He questioned the absence of any mention of Article 370, Article 35A, or the events of August 5, 2019, in the Governor’s address, terming it a complete departure from the NC’s election rhetoric.

Lone Accuses NC of Aligning with BJP's Narrative 

Lone pointed out that during the election campaign, the National Conference had positioned itself as the sole defender of Article 370, repeatedly accusing other parties of aligning with the BJP. However, he argued that the government's first major address reflected an unmistakable alignment with the BJP’s narrative, signaling that the NC had abandoned even symbolic references to its past stance.

“The Governor’s address is indistinguishable from what would have been a BJP speech, had they been in power. There is total ideological overlap,” Lone said on Twitter, adding, “No mention, not even remotely, of Article 370, Article 35A, or the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir. The NC government has finally done away even with ornamentalism. They don’t even want to pretend they have anything to do with Article 370.”

Lone further criticized the address for lacking vision and any new political, social, or economic initiatives.

“If this address was meant to be a vision statement of the government, it is as visionless as it can get. It is a generalized departmental statement without any fresh approach or creativity,” he said.

Bureaucrat-Run Administration

Predicting a bureaucrat-driven administration, Lone added that this government is poised to follow the same governance model as its predecessors, with little political contribution.

“The bureaucrats ran the last administration. The bureaucrats will run this administration. The political contribution to governance is all set to be non-existent,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reiterated the government's commitment to restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir during the first budget session of the Assembly in seven years. Addressing the session, Sinha emphasized that the proceedings were not merely a legislative formality but a step towards good governance, transparency, and inclusive development.

He acknowledged the emotional and political significance of statehood, assuring that the government remains steadfast in addressing this aspiration through engagement with all stakeholders.

Also read: ‘Omar Abdullah Is Not Part of Kashmir’s Landscape’: People’s Conference chief Sajjad Lone

Calling the budget session "historic," Sinha noted that it was the first to be presented by an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir since 2017. He said the budget symbolizes the power of the people and reflects their hopes for a brighter future.

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to peace and prosperity, Sinha highlighted economic growth despite challenges and emphasized ongoing efforts to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a progressive economy.

Meanwhile, speaking to the media, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “We are not talking about any alliance (with the BJP), neither is there any scope nor the need. Our thoughts also do not align. If we talk about J&K, our thoughts are vastly different. We will hold discussions on everything (during the session),” Abdullah stated.

This marks the second Assembly session since the formation of the National Conference-led government. The first session was held in Srinagar from November 4 to 8 last year, just weeks after the government took office.