Storm in IIOJK Assembly over pre-1953 reference in fresh resolution
BJP demands removal of Omar govt, DyCM warns against bids to dislodge govt
Jammu: A fresh political confrontation has erupted in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir after BJP legislators demanded dismissal of the Omar Abdullah-led government over references to the 2000 Resolution in a fresh Assembly resolution seeking restoration of full statehood.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved the resolution in the IIOJK Legislative Assembly on September 25 during the ongoing sixth session of the House. The resolution calls for the “immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir” and says it is in addition to resolutions passed by the House on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024.
The latest resolution does not itself directly call for restoration of the pre-1953 arrangement. However, its reference to the June 26, 2000, resolution has triggered strong objections from the BJP. The 2000 resolution, passed during the Farooq Abdullah government, had sought restoration of occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional position as it existed before August 9, 1953, when the territory had its own prime minister and other independent institutions.
BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma and other party legislators opposed the reference and demanded action against the elected government. Sharma urged the Indian Home Minister to consider dismissing the government, alleging that the ruling National Conference-Congress coalition had crossed constitutional limits by reviving issues concerning autonomy and the pre-1953 arrangement.
BJP members also disrupted Assembly proceedings over the reference, with legislators entering the Well of the House and tearing copies of the resolution. Sharma alleged that the government was attempting to revive greater autonomy under the cover of the statehood demand and questioned the Assembly’s authority to raise issues concerning the powers of the Indian Parliament and the Supreme Court.
Reacting to the BJP demand, Deputy Chief Minister SurinderChoudhary rejected calls for dismissal of the elected government or imposition of Lieutenant Governor’s rule. He said the Omar Abdullah government had been elected by the people of occupied Jammu and Kashmir and warned against any attempt to interfere with its functioning or resort to horse-trading.
Choudhary reiterated that restoration of statehood and special status remained among the government’s political demands. He also accused the BJP of obstructing the elected administration and said the government would continue working on issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The latest confrontation has brought the long-standing political debate over special status and restoration of statehood back to the centre of proceedings in the IIOJK Assembly, nearly seven years after the constitutional changes imposed by New Delhi in August 2019.
