While allocating budget in Jammu & Kashmir, both the regions need to be equally taken care of: Pawan Sharma

JAMMU: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and State Secretary, Jammu & Kashmir, Pawan Sharma today launched a sharp attack on the Omar Abdullah–led government, accusing it of betraying the mandate of the people by failing to convert its lofty poll promises into meaningful governance and balanced budgetary action.

Pawan Sharma stated that the annual budget of Jammu & Kashmir must reflect ground realities, regional aspirations, and equitable development, rather than hollow political rhetoric used during elections. He emphasized that both Jammu and Kashmir regions, along with sub-regions like Chanderbhaga (Chenab Valley) and Pir Panjal, must receive fair attention and justice in budget allocation.

“Balanced development is not limited to just Jammu and Kashmir as two regions. Areas like Chanderbhaga (Chenab Valley) and Pir Panjal have historically remained neglected and now deserve focused, just, and proportionate attention in the budget,” Sharma said.

He asserted that the people of Jammu & Kashmir are still awaiting fulfillment of a series of grand assurances made during the election campaign, including regularization of daily wagers, 200 units of free electricity, 12 free LPG cylinders per year, free ration for all, and one lakh jobs for unemployed youth.

“These promises were loudly propagated to secure votes, but after assuming power, the government has conveniently fallen silent. The budget will now reveal whether these assurances were sincere commitments or nothing more than election-time jumlas,” Pawan Sharma remarked.

The BJP leader pointed out that the Jammu region continues to face discrimination in budgetary priorities, with inadequate funding in critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, irrigation, road connectivity, and employment generation. He added that remote, hilly, and border areas of Chenab Valley and Pir Panjal suffer the most due to administrative apathy and lack of focused financial planning.

“Despite contributing significantly to the economy, security, and stability of the Union Territory, these regions remain deprived of basic infrastructure and development opportunities. This injustice must end,” he said.

Sharma cautioned that budgeting should never become a tool for vote-bank appeasement or regional bias, but must be guided by constitutional responsibility and development needs.

“A budget that ignores Jammu, Chenab Valley, or Pir Panjal weakens the entire Union Territory. Development cannot be selective, and governance cannot be partisan,” he warned.

Accusing the Omar Abdullah government of recycling promises every election cycle without accountability, Sharma said slogans of inclusive development ring hollow when unemployment, poor infrastructure, and lack of essential services continue to plague large sections of the population.

Reaffirming the BJP’s commitment, Pawan Sharma said the party will remain the strongest voice for equitable development and regional justice, and will closely scrutinize the budget to expose any imbalance or discrimination. “The people of Jammu & Kashmir are aware, vigilant, and politically mature. They will judge this government by what it delivers, not by what it promises,” he asserted.

Pawan Sharma concluded by demanding that the Omar Abdullah government come clean on its electoral commitments, ensure transparency and fairness in budgetary allocations, and adopt a governance framework that truly treats Jammu, Kashmir, Chanderbhaga (Chenab Valley), and Pir Panjal as equal stakeholders in the progress and prosperity of the Union Territory.