SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, Nov 04: The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed its first Assembly session in six years on Monday, following the abrogation of Article 370.
According to the Kashmir Despatch team present at the session, National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather was elected as the Speaker during the first hour. Shortly after, a ruckus erupted over Article 370.
Chaotic scenes unfolded in the first half of the session when PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para submitted a resolution seeking the restoration of Article 370 to Jammu and Kashmir.
“Sir, I congratulate you on your election as the Speaker of the House. We will learn a lot from your experience. Today, I have a resolution on behalf of my party that I wish to submit before you. This resolution calls for the restoration of Article 370,” Para stated.
However, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members opposed Para’s resolution. The Speaker, Rahim Rather of the ruling National Conference, responded that he had not yet admitted any resolutions.
BJP MPs described the move as unfortunate, saying, “To do this on the very first day demonstrates a lot. Article 370 no longer exists in Kashmir, and one MLA is just trying to incite people.”
Reacting to Para’s resolution, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed that the people of the Union Territory are dissatisfied with the central government’s decision to abrogate Article 370. However, he emphasized that discussions on the topic should not be dictated by any one member.
Chief Minister Abdullah stated, “This was brought up merely for the cameras, and a single MLA’s private resolution carries no weight. We know that preparations for this were being made by a member. The reality is that the people of Jammu and Kashmir do not approve of the decision taken on August 5, 2019. If they had approved, then the results today would have been different. How the House will reflect and discuss this will not be determined by any one member. If there was any intent behind this, it would have been discussed with us beforehand.”
Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti expressed her support for the resolution introduced by her MLA in the Assembly.
“I am proud of Waheed Para for introducing the resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly opposing the revocation of Article 370 and calling for a restoration of the special status. God bless you,” Mufti posted on X.
In another post, she thanked independent MLA Shabir Kullay, Sheikh Khurshid, and others for their solidarity with the PDP MLAs in opposing the abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
“Your support in this resolution underscores the ongoing political and humanitarian concerns within Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting the broader sentiment of those who view the revocation of Article 370 as a significant alteration to our autonomy and identity,” she said. “This collective action by political figures signifies the depth of feeling about the issue, aiming to address not only the legal but also the moral dimensions of the decision made by the central government. As we move forward, it is essential to advocate for the rights and voices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed.”
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and pro tem Speaker Mubarak Gul congratulated Rather as he took the Chair in the House.
Omar Abdullah remarked, “Honourable Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on behalf of the entire House. You were probably the natural choice for this responsibility. You have served the people, sometimes as a member of the party and sometimes as part of the opposition. Now, you are the custodian of the House.” The first session will conclude on November 8.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
