J&K Assembly passes resolution seeking restoration of statehood, BJP legislators protest and stage walkout slogans

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 28 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today passed a resolution seeking restoration of statehood, following which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members walked out of the House. The House was later adjourned till Tuesday morning. The resolution was presented in the Assembly by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on September 25, however, the decision on it was postponed due to the desire of the members to discuss and express their views. On Monday, during the re-discussion of the resolution, there was again a ruckus in the House and BJP members raised strong objections to the language of the resolution and the references to previous resolutions in it.
The resolution states that in addition to the resolutions passed by the House on June 26, 2000 and November 6, 2024, this House demands the Government of India to restore the full statehood of Jammu and Kashmir on an immediate and urgent basis and decides that this resolution be sent to the Government of India. The resolution also refers to the resolution of June 26, 2000, which was passed at that time under the leadership of the National Conference government and the then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. This resolution demanded restoration of greater autonomy in accordance with the constitutional position prior to August 9, 1953.
Similarly, on November 6, 2024, the present Assembly had demanded talks to restore the special status and constitutional guarantees of Jammu and Kashmir.
The references to the erstwhile autonomy and special status in the resolution were strongly objected to by BJP members.
During the protest on Monday, BJP members raised slogans, tore business papers and also conducted mock proceedings in parallel. During this, there was intense sloganeering and heated debate between the ruling and opposition members in the House. The BJP also tried to move a motion to remove Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather and took the stand that the previous references to autonomy and special status should not be included in the resolution to restore statehood.
Opposition Leader Sunil Sharma said that the BJP is in favor of restoring statehood, but it has objections to the language used in the resolution and some of the references. Meanwhile, several members, including the ruling National Conference, moved amendments to the resolution, which also included a demand for restoration of special status. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah appealed to the members to withdraw these amendments during the debate. Omar Abdullah said that the Assembly has already passed resolutions related to special status twice. He told the members that the main purpose of the current resolution is to demand the Government of India to restore the full statehood of Jammu and Kashmir and due to the amendments, the BJP may get more opportunity to oppose the resolution.
After the Chief Minister’s appeal, the Speaker asked the members whether they would insist on their amendments, to which all eight members agreed to withdraw the amendments. After this, the Speaker put the resolution for voting. Amid protests and sloganeering by BJP members, the Speaker passed the resolution in the House through a voice vote. After this, the BJP members walked out of the House.
The BJP said that the references to autonomy and special status are tantamount to insulting the Constitution and the party will not allow a discussion on this issue or the passage of such a resolution in the House. Thus, the resolution on the restoration of full statehood in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was once again passed amidst political disagreements and strong protests, while the reference in the resolution to previous resolutions passed in 2000 and 2024 remained a central point of contention.
(Straight Talk Communications)