Jammu, July 12 -- Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on Sunday accused the BJP of making excuses to fulfil its assurance of restoring statehood and said it should spell out a timeline.

Choudhary told reporters that 18 months have passed since the elections were held but statehood has not been restored.

"Yesterday from Kashmir and today from Jammu, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have unitedly reminded the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in one voice that you had promised us that you would restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Eighteen months have passed since the elections ended today, but that hasn't happened," he said.

"The National Conference is fulfilling its responsibility, but the BJP is...