Senior Congress leader GhulamNabi Azad alleged on Monday that Jammu and Kashmir was on “ventilator” after the government put it under a “political quarantine” for the last seven months and a half, saying the situation there was worse than what it was even 30 years ago. Initiating a debate in the RajyaSabha on the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bills, the Leader of Opposition in the Upper House of Parliament hoped that the next budget for Jammu and Kashmir would be passed in the Assembly there and all political detainees would be released immediately to help revive political activity in the state. He also demanded an early grant of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, which has been divided into two Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, since October 31 last year.Azad alleged that there was no development in Jammu and Kashmir ever since it was bifurcated into Union territories and deprived of statehood, contrary to the claims made by the BJP-led Centre.He said it would have been better if the budget for Jammu and Kashmir was discussed in the Assembly there, adding that it was being deliberated upon at a time when the entire world was under the grip of the coronavirus and making efforts to get out of it.
