SRINAGAR: BJP legislators staged a protest inside the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday during the discussion on the resolution seeking restoration of statehood, with Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma objecting to references to the region’s pre-1953 constitutional position and the Assembly’s 2000 autonomy resolution.
Addressing the House, Sharma said political differences between the government and opposition should not prevent discussion on issues affecting Jammu and Kashmir. He said the opposition was not obliged to reject every government proposal and that the BJP wanted a constructive debate on the restoration of statehood.
“Sometimes it is very difficult to come to a common consensus. It is not necessary that we always support the opposition. We also want a positive discussion here, especially when it comes to the state,” Sharma said.
Sharma, however, opposed the wording and references in the resolution concerning the constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir before 1953. He said the BJP could not accept such references within the constitutional framework of India.
He also questioned the inclusion of the 2000 autonomy resolution in the current statehood proposal, saying the BJP had opposed that resolution when it was brought before the Assembly.
Sharma further referred to the constitutional principles governing India and reiterated that the references contained in the present resolution were not acceptable to the BJP.
The BJP has said it is prepared to debate the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir but does not support linking the issue with Article 370 or the 2000 autonomy resolution.
The protest took place as the Assembly considered the statehood resolution, resulting in exchanges between members of the ruling and opposition benches.
