Jammu: Rattan Lal Gupta, a senior leader of the National Conference, has vocally criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its governance failures in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing it of betraying public trust and eroding regional rights over the past decade.

According to Kashmir Media Service, during a party meeting in Jammu, Gupta contended that the BJP’s tenure in power has been marked by significant setbacks for the region, particularly criticizing the controversial abrogation of Article 370. This legal change, he stated, not only stripped away the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir but also divided it into two union territories, undermining the region’s autonomy and identity.

Gupta elaborated that the BJP’s actions have fallen well short of the expectations of the local population. He highlighted that the recent BJP manifesto for the upcoming Assembly elections lacks innovation and merely echoes promises similar to those previously made by the National Conference. He accused the BJP of recycling old ideas without introducing any substantive new policies or measures that address the specific needs of the region.

Reasserting his party’s stance, Gupta emphasized the National Conference’s dedication to restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and upholding the dignity and rights of its people. This statement comes at a critical time as political tensions and the debate over the region’s status continue to dominate local discourse.