SRINAGAR: Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma on Monday accused the Congress party of being a “puppet” of the National Conference (NC), alleging that the party has long lacked political independence in Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing reporters, the BJP leader claimed that Congress had no distinct political identity in the region and had historically functioned under the shadow of the NC.
“Congress doesn’t have its own existence in Jammu and Kashmir. It operates as a puppet of the National Conference and merely follows the decisions made by NC leadership. It is not an independent party,” Sharma said.
He further alleged that the Congress leadership had been subservient to NC interests since 1975, when Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah was reinstated as Chief Minister following his release from jail, reportedly at the insistence of the party’s central leadership.
Sharma’s remarks came in response to a question regarding Congress’s recent decision to opt out of the Rajya Sabha elections after being offered what he described as a “risky seat” by the NC.
The BJP leader maintained that the decision reflected Congress’s continued political dependence on its ally.
