Centre's treatment of non-BJP govts an insult to democracy: NC leader

Gupta said the BJP’s approach was not only politically unfortunate, but also an insult to the people's mandate. “The stance weakens the democratic and federal spirit of the Constitution,” he added.

Gupta was interacting with party workers at the new provincial office of the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference in Gandhi Nagar.

"The Centre's step-motherly treatment of non-BJP governments is an insult to the people's mandate and democracy. The Centre must respect the verdict of the electorate irrespective of which political party forms the government," the NC leader said.

Gupta said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had elected their representatives in 2024, yet their long-pending demand of restoration of full statehood remained unfulfilled. "Denying statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is, in effect, denying the people the full constitutional and democratic framework of a state. The people of J&K should not be treated differently from citizens of other states," Gupta said.

The leader added that the elected governments must be given adequate constitutional space and authority to discharge its responsibilities towards the people. Gupta urged the Centre to honour its commitment and immediately restore full statehood to J&K.

Gupta appealed to the Centre to rise above party politics and strengthen the country's federal structure by ensuring equal treatment for all elected governments. “The Centre cannot selectively respect democratic mandates. Jammu and Kashmir deserves dignity, democracy, statehood and full constitutional empowerment," he added.