Political Parties in IIOJK Severely Criticize LG Manoj Sinha’s ‘Myopic’ Address

Political leaders in IIOJK have strongly criticized Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s recent assembly address, accusing him of ignoring key issues affecting the region, including the abrogation of Article 370 and the restoration of statehood.

In Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), political leaders have slammed Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha’s recent address in the assembly, describing it as “myopic” and accusing him of failing to address critical issues such as the abrogation of Article 370 and the restoration of statehood.

Sinha’s speech was delivered at the opening of the first Budget Session of the newly elected assembly in Jammu. As per legislative procedure, the speech was scripted by the government and presented in the House. However, political parties across the region voiced strong discontent, pointing out the omissions and shortcomings in the address.

Mehbooba Mufti, the president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), criticized the speech for offering nothing new. She stated that it resembled previous addresses by the Lieutenant Governor, lacking any meaningful mention of the issues that matter most to the people of IIOJK. “We had hoped that the Lieutenant Governor’s address would reflect the aspirations of the people of IIOJK. But this address had no mention of addressing our disempowered and dispossessed,” Mufti said in a press conference in Srinagar.

Although the LG did acknowledge the demand for statehood, claiming that the government remained “steadfast in its commitment” to restoring it, the omission of any mention of Article 370 or Article 35A sparked outrage. In his speech, Sinha affirmed that his government recognized the political and emotional significance of statehood but failed to address the August 5, 2019, revocation of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)’s special status—a crucial point for many political leaders in the region.

Sajad Gani Lone, the president of the Peoples Conference, expressed similar discontent, stating that the LG’s address could have easily passed as a BJP speech. “There seems to be total ideological overlap. No mention, not even remotely, of Article 370, Article 35A. No mention of August 5, 2019. No mention of the Reorganisation Act,” Lone wrote on X, referencing the date when IIOJK’s special status was revoked.

Lone also criticized the National Conference (NC) for its shift in position after coming to power. “I remember how during the election campaign it was all about Article 370 and how all others were BJP’s B-team. And now the ideological overlap,” Lone said, accusing the NC of aligning with the BJP’s agenda.

Both Mufti and Lone dismissed the address as lacking any vision for the region’s future. “The speech is as visionless as it can get,” Lone concluded, signaling the widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s approach to IIOJK’s political crisis.