“Omar: Assembly Has Fulfilled Its Duty on Special Status Resolution”

SRINAGAR, Nov 6: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated on Wednesday that the Legislative Assembly had fulfilled its responsibility after passing a resolution calling for a dialogue between the Centre and elected representatives to restore the special status of the erstwhile state.

The resolution, which also expressed “concern” over the “unilateral removal” of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, was passed via voice vote without any debate, as Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put it to vote amid disruptive scenes in the House.

“The assembly has done its job. I will only say this much,” a smiling Abdullah told reporters outside the assembly complex following the resolution’s passage.

The resolution was moved by National Conference (NC) MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary. It called for the restoration of J&K’s special status, which was revoked by the Centre on August 5, 2019.

The resolution reaffirmed the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees that safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It also expressed concern over their unilateral removal and emphasized that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of J&K.

The resolution was opposed by BJP members, including Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who argued that it was not part of the listed business for the session. “We reject the resolution. The business given to us was that the discussion was on the Lieutenant Governor’s address,” Sharma said.

As BJP members raised slogans against the resolution, Speaker Rather put it to a voice vote, which passed amidst the commotion. Following the passing of the resolution, BJP members stormed into the Well of the House, leading to the Speaker adjourning the House for 15 minutes.

When the House reconvened, the uproar continued, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the session for another hour.