Omar Abdullah Moves J&K Statehood Resolution; BJP Protests in Assembly

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday moved a resolution in the state assembly calling for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory. The move triggered uproarious scenes, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members storming the well of the house, shouting slogans, and tearing copies of the resolution. Ruling National Conference (NC) members responded with counter-slogans, leading to pandemonium and a scuffle. The speaker adjourned the house for half an hour; when it reassembled, BJP members again protested in the well.

The resolution, which is likely to be put to vote on Monday, states: "In addition to the Resolutions passed by this House on 26th June 2000 and 6th November 2024, this House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and resolves that this Resolution be forwarded to Government of India." The reference to the June 2000 resolution proved particularly contentious. That resolution had sought the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's pre-1953 position, when the state had its own Prime Minister and Sadre Reyasat, and the Supreme Court and Election Commission had no jurisdiction over it.

Speaking on the resolution, Abdullah said he had been pleading with the central government for the restoration of statehood for the past two years but nothing had been done. He claimed that the local BJP leadership is against statehood and had been "exposed" by the move. "This resolution is only about the restoration of the statehood. This resolution will also expose the real enemies of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Who want restoration of statehood and who are against it," he said. He added that statehood is not for his government or party but for the identity of Jammu and Kashmir and its people.

As BJP members termed the NC leadership anti-national, Abdullah retorted that his party has made enormous sacrifices for the nation and does not need any certificate from the BJP. "We don't need any certificate from the BJP - we have given so many sacrifices for the country and we don't care about their anti-national rants," he said.