SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Friday backed the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Legislative Assembly seeking restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, saying the move provides an opportunity for legislators to make their position clear on the issue.
In a joint statement, NC Additional General Secretaries Chowdhury Mohammad Ramzan and Ajay Kumar Sadhotra said they hoped the Union government would respect what they described as the will of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The leaders said the Central Government had failed to honour its commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after the elections.
They said the NC had repeatedly raised the issue with the Centre, including in both Houses of Parliament, public meetings and protests.
“Under these circumstances, moving a resolution on restoration of statehood in the Legislative Assembly had become imperative,” the leaders said, adding that the resolution would allow members to make their position clear on the issue.
The NC leaders also criticised the BJP members for disrupting proceedings after the resolution was moved, saying their reaction had made the party’s position on statehood clear.
They alleged that the BJP was opposed not only to restoration of statehood but was also showing “discomfiture” with democratic institutions and the popular mandate.
The leaders said the reference in the resolution to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly resolutions passed on June 26, 2000 and November 6, 2024 reflected the NC’s longstanding position on the constitutional rights of Jammu and Kashmir.
They said neither of the earlier resolutions was “anti-national” and maintained that the latest resolution was neither unconstitutional nor contrary to law.
The NC leaders said the party had sought restoration of rights and commitments within the constitutional framework and recalled the Centre’s earlier assurance that “Sky is the Limit”.
They said restoration of statehood should not be treated as a favour but as a democratic right of the people and a necessary step for the elected government to function effectively.
