IIOJK LA passes full statehood resolution amid protests by BJP
Resolution moved by CM Omar Abdullah on Friday
Srinagar: The Legislative Assembly of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has passed a resolution seeking urgent restoration of full statehood, amid a walkout by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
According to Kashmir Media Service, the resolution was moved by puppet Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday last week. However, it was deferred as several members wanted to speak over the issue.
The opposition, BJP, protested against the resolution on Friday as well as on today, with party members jumping into the well of the House, tearing business papers and conducting mock proceedings.
“In addition to the resolutions passed by this House on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024, the House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and resolves that this resolution be forwarded to the Government of India,” the resolution read.
The National Conference-led government, headed by Farooq Abdullah had passed a resolution on June 26, 2000 for restoration of greater autonomy as existed before August 9, 1953.
On November 6, 2024, the House passed a resolution seeking the restoration of special status.
Several members, including from the ruling National Conference (NC), had moved amendments to the resolution, with many seeking that the resolution also demand the restoration of special status.
However, while responding during the debate, the chief minister urged the members to withdraw their amendments, saying “they had got trapped in this scheme (of the BJP) and moved amendments”.
“This House has already passed resolutions twice for special status — one in (former CM) Farooq Abdullah time, and the other in 2024 soon after the formation of this government. Special status is a provision that other states do not have. We have asked the Centre to restore the special provisions which we had before 2019. So, I request my colleagues not to press the amendments which will give the BJP an excuse to oppose it,” Omar Abdullah said.
Following the CM’s appeal, the Speaker asked the members whether they intended not to press the amendments, to which all eight MLAs agreed.
The Speaker then put the resolution to vote, even as BJP members continued with their protest.
The resolution was passed through voice vote amid a walkout by the BJP.
It is to be mentioned that on August 5, 2019, the BJP government, led by Narendra Modi, in violation of United Nations resolutions and international law, revoked Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution, which granted special status to the internationally recognized disputed territory of IIOJK. The move was accompanied by an unprecedented military siege, sweeping restrictions, and intensified repression across the occupied territory.
