JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday criticised opposition members for staging a walkout over the use of the term “Union Territory” in the Assembly, asserting that JK remains a UT until Parliament restores its statehood. The controversy arose during the passage of a bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017, when People’s Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone walked out, claiming that passing the bill in its current form amounted to endorsing UT status. Wahid Para of the Peoples Democratic Party also voiced concerns about the endorsement of UT status.
Reacting to the walkout, Abdullah said, “Just because the term ‘Union Territory’ is mentioned does not change the reality. Until Parliament restores our statehood, we remain a Union Territory. Let’s not politicise this.”
Omar Abdullah also pointed out that all Assembly business so far had been conducted under the name ‘Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.’
The Chief Minister reiterated that his government was actively pushing for the restoration of statehood. “In our very first cabinet meeting, we passed a resolution demanding statehood and submitted it to the Prime Minister. I have raised this issue at every opportunity, including during the Sonmarg function. The people of JK do not want UT status—they want their statehood back,” Omar Abdullah said.
The bill, the first of the Budget session, was introduced by Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary on behalf of the Chief Minister, who also holds the Finance portfolio.
