Omar govt reversing industrial progress made in recent years: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday alleged that the Omar Abdullah-led J&K Government was reversing the industrial progress “made in the past few years”.

BJP spokerperson Abhijeet Jasrotia stated that significant strides were made in Jammu and Kashmir’s industrial sector over the past six years under the BJP-led Union Government.

Jasrotia claimed that the transformative measures and robust policies were implemented to revive and expand the region’s industrial landscape, “which had been previously marred by inefficiency, corruption and nepotism during earlier administrations”.

Jasrotia noted that while J&K witnessed its first wave of industrialization in the 1970s, supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure such as the HMT plant in Srinagar, mismanagement and poor governance led to the decline of industries, including the J&K Industries Corporation.

“A renewed focus on industrial growth came under the leadership of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who introduced the first industrial package for the region. Building on this foundation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government provided a historic industrial package, attracting investments worth thousands of crores and generating employment opportunities for thousands of youths in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

“However, the current regime appears to be reversing the progress made in the industrial sector,” Jasrotia added.

He highlighted instances of harassment faced by industrialists and bureaucrats, which he attributed to the actions of certain individuals in the administration. “The same officers who delivered exceptional results over the past six years are now being unfairly targeted,” he added.

Jasrotia urged the Omar government to refrain from undermining the achievements of the past and learn from the adage, ‘A bad workman quarrels with his tools’.

Another BJP spokesperson GL Raina expressed concern over what he described as “selective targeting of the industrial sector and bureaucracy,” suggesting it could be part of a larger conspiracy to disproportionately affect the Jammu region, where most industries are located.

Both leaders urged the UT government to focus on fostering an environment conducive to growth and development rather than indulging in policies that could hinder the region’s industrial progress.