J&K Assembly Erupts Over Statehood Resolution as BJP, NC Clash on Amendments

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday saw stormy scenes as treasury and opposition members clashed over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's resolution demanding full statehood for the Union Territory. The Bharatiya Janata Party opposed references in the resolution to the erstwhile state's pre-August 5, 2019 status, even as it maintained that it too favoured statehood.

BJP protests, demands Speaker's removal

BJP legislators raised slogans of "Bharat Mata ki Jai" and entered the well of the House, demanding that Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather vacate the chair. They claimed 23 members had signed a motion against the Speaker and insisted it be taken up first and put to vote. Rather said he had not seen the motion and read out the rules, noting that even a written notice for a motion against the Speaker would enter the House's business no earlier than 14 days later.

Opposition leader Sunil Sharma said the BJP supported statehood but objected to the resolution's language. "Jammu and Kashmir is a sensitive state; the enemy is at its borders. We are also for the statehood, but the kind of language or words that have been used in this resolution are unacceptable and unconstitutional," he said. He also referred to the pre-1953 status sought in a 2000 resolution, saying the Centre had rejected it when Omar Abdullah was part of the government.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary countered that Jammu and Kashmir was not the only border state. "Jammu and Kashmir is not the only border state, Rajasthan is also… does that mean we should drop the demand for statehood, for special status?" he asked, also questioning the delay in fulfilling promises made by the Government of India on the floor of Parliament.

Ten amendments moved

Ten amendments have been moved to the resolution, eight of which seek to expand it to include restoration of the special status Jammu and Kashmir held before August 2019. Six National Conference legislators have sought the addition of Articles 370 and 35A. An amendment by NC's Baramulla MLA Javid Hassan Baig proposes adding the words "along with restoration of Article 370 and the constitutional protections formerly available under Article 35A" after the reference to full statehood. Similar amendments have been moved by NC legislators Altaf Ahmad Wani, Tanvir Sadiq, Chowdhary Mohammad Akram, Ajaz Ahmad Jan and Hilal Ahmad Lone.

PDP MLA Waheed Para has sought to expand the resolution to include restoration of autonomy and Articles 370 and 35A in their original form. Congress legislator Nizam-ud-din Bhat has moved an amendment seeking the addition of words reminding the government to respect its own commitments made at various forums and to the deprived people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Chief Minister had moved the resolution in the Assembly on Friday, calling upon the Government of India for "full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir". The resolution also referred to resolutions passed by the House on 26 June 2000 and 6 November 2024. The 2000 resolution, passed during Farooq Abdullah's tenure, had sought restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's pre-1953 status and was rejected by the Centre. The 2024 resolution had called for dialogue with representatives of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of its special status.