Amid ruckus, Assembly passes resolution seeking restoration of J&K’s special status

Amid strong opposition by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding the restoration of its special status, also calling upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir.

Today’s resolution has come just two days after PDP legislator Waheed Para on the first day of the Assembly session proposed a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370, which had triggered a ruckus in the House.

As the Assembly convened on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary introduced the resolution, which was seconded by Minister Sakina Masood Itoo.

Calling upon the “Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and to workout constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions,” the resolution added, “this Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.”

“That this Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal,” it said.

As the resolution was moved, it immediately triggered protests from the BJP legislators, who stood up and even tore down the copies of the resolution saying it was not part of the House business.

As BJP continued the protest, raising slogans like “Pakistan ka agenda nahi chalega (Pakistan’s agenda will not be accepted),” Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather asked the protesting legislators to return to their seats or he would put the resolution to vote.

As the ruckus continued with the BJP legislators entering into the well of the House, the Speaker put the resolution on vote, which was then passed through a voice vote.

The Speaker had to adjourn the House three times but when the BJP legislators didn’t stop their protest, who also alleged that the Speaker was biased in his conduct, the House was adjourned till Thursday morning.

Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Sunil Sharma, meanwhile, termed the resolution as “unconstitutional and misleading.” While condemning the introduction of the bill by the NC-Cong government aimed at reinstating Article 370, Sharma said, “J&K Legislative Assembly is not above the Parliament and Supreme Court, which upheld the abrogation of Article 370.”

Barring BJP, no MLA from any Kashmir-centric party or Independents opposed the resolution. Leaders like Handwara MLA Sajad Lone, who is otherwise a strong critic of NC, too supported the resolution in the Assembly. Lone termed the passing of resolution a very good start. “More needs to be done,” he said.

After the Assembly passed the resolution for restoration of J&K’s special status, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “Assembly has done its job.”

On the other hand, the response of Congress party, coalition partner of NC in Jammu and Kashmir, was subdued when the resolution was moved. J&K Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Tariq Hameed Karra, later in a statement welcomed the resolution. “After the Supreme Court verdict, this is the first democratic expression of the people of J&K reflecting the aspirations of the people,” he said.

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the resolution for restoration of special status to the erstwhile state was a “half-hearted” effort which could have been written “in a better way”.

Independent MLA from Shopian, Shabir Kullay, said while he supported the resolution, it didn’t specifically include anything about Article 370 of Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019.