SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly adopted a resolution on Wednesday reaffirming the importance of the former state’s special status. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary moved the resolution, which divided the house. The BJP opposed it, while other members supported it.
The resolution stated: “That this Legislative 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 their unilateral removal.”
It continued, “The Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with the elected representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees, and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.”
The resolution further asserted that the Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the resolution faced strong opposition from BJP’s Sunil Sharma, who argued that it was not part of the Assembly’s official business for the day. His objections sparked a heated exchange, leading to a brief uproar in the Assembly as members debated the legitimacy and implications of the resolution.
The Treasury bench, mostly consisting of 29 BJP members, rose to their feet in protest. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather informed the BJP members that they had the right to discuss the motion as per routine norms. He said that if they chose not to discuss it, he held the authority to initiate a vote on the resolution’s passage.
As the BJP continued protesting against the motion, the Speaker called for a vote, and the resolution was passed by voice vote.
After the passage of the resolution, the Speaker adjourned the House for some time, but the BJP continued protesting in the well of the House.
PDP lawmakers who supported the move later said the resolution neither opposed August 5, 2019, nor rejected it. Waheed Parras said he wanted to move an amendment in the text of the resolution replacing concern with opposition and rejection that was passed by the house.
