Statehood demand dominates IIOJK Assembly, BJP grilled for disrupting proceedings
Srinagar: The demand for restoration of statehood dominated the opening day of the autumn session of the Legislative Assembly in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with opposition to the continued denial of statehood emerging as a key issue and lawmakers accusing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members of disrupting proceedings to prevent a united demand for restoration.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader and Kulgam MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami urged legislators across political affiliations to jointly press the Indian government for restoration of full statehood to occupied Jammu and Kashmir without further delay.
Speaking in the Assembly, Tarigami said the legislature itself remained “disempowered” and that the prolonged delay in restoring statehood had added to public disappointment. He called upon all members to raise their collective voice for what he described as a long-pending demand of the people.
“The government of India has repeatedly committed to restoring full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir,” Tarigami said.
Congress leader and Dooru MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir later accused BJP lawmakers of deliberately creating a commotion to prevent political parties from jointly questioning the Indian government over its failure to restore statehood.
Mir said the denial of statehood had also affected the functioning of the elected government and its ability to address public issues, arguing that the local government was operating with limited powers.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary also accused BJP members of deliberately disrupting the proceedings. He alleged that the BJP created a ruckus when a committee report on the Jal Jeevan Mission was due to be presented before the House.
The confrontation over statehood and the conduct of the opening proceedings comes nearly seven years after the Indian government revoked Kashmir’s special status and statehood in August 2019 and divided the territory into two union territories.
