Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today passed a resolution seeking dialogue on restoration of special status and Constitutional guarantees and expressed concern over their unilateral removal by the Centre.
The passage of the resolution led to massive protest by the opposition Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) and uproar in the House leading to its adjournment by the Speaker of the Assembly.
The resolution was passed with the support from three PDP legislators, two Independent MLAs and Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved a resolution seeking dialogue on restoration of Article 370 which was passed with majority vote in the Assembly.
Choudhary on behalf of the Government moved a resolution that read: “This 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 the unilateral removal.”
The resolution further reads “This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of J&K for restoration of special status, Constitutional guarantees and to work out the Constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.”
“This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of J&K,” read the resolution.
The motion was seconded by senior NC leader and Health Minister Sakina Itoo.
The move evoked sharp criticism from the BJP leader and Lof the Opposition in the House, Sunil Sharma and other BJP leaders who questioned change in the business. “When business was about discussion on LG’s address, how resolution,” he said.
Independent MLAs Sheikh Khursheed and Shabir Kullay and PC chief Sajad Lone supported the resolution besides three PDP legislators.
Amid commotion and uproar in the Assembly, Speaker Abdur Rahim Rather instead of holding discussion put the resolution to vote which was passed with the majority.
Soon after the resolution was passed, as BJP legislators created an uproar by storming into the well of the House, the Speaker first adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
As the House met again, the BJP MLAs stayed in the well of the House raising slogans against the Speaker and accused him of being an NC agent.
BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma while protesting against the resolution said that his party has secured the highest vote share during the Assembly elections and that the vote ratio must be taken into consideration, not the numbers, while passing the resolution.
He also said that the people of J&K have given a mandate in favour of the abrogation of Article 370. “Their (Government’s) gimmicks won’t work, and we will give them a befitting reply.”
The BJP members raised slogans like, “Jahan Hue Balidan Mukherji, Woh Kashmir Hamara Hai; Desh Virodhi Agenda, Nahin Chalega, Nahin Chalega.” They even tore the copies of the resolution moved by the Government.
When the House met again, BJP leaders continued to remain in the well of the House and refused to settle down despite repeated requests by the Speaker, who again adjourned the House for one hour.
And when the House met again, the BJP leaders termed the NC as anti-national. The opposition camp led by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma called the resolution as “cheating” stating that when business was discussion on LG’s address how come resolution was brought in the House. “We protest against it, object to it and reject it,” he said.
As BJP intensified the protest, the Speaker adjourned the House for a third time till tomorrow.
On August 5, 2019, Centre revoked J&K special status and bifurcated the erstwhile State of J&K into two UTs-J&K and Ladakh. NC in its manifesto had promised to fight for the restoration of Statehood and special status.
