Accuses NC of Running ‘Anti-National, Pakistani Agenda’
SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, Nov 6: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for the restoration of the region’s special status, urging the “Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives” of the Union Territory to develop “constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.” This move was met with protests from the BJP.
According to the Kashmir Despatch team present during the session, the resolution was moved by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary and seconded by Minister for Health, Education, and Social Welfare Sakeena Masood.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put the resolution to a voice vote, which passed amid the uproar. The resolution, a copy of which is with Kashmir Despatch, states, “This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of special status and constitutional guarantees that safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.”
It further asserts, “This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.”
Further, the resolution emphasizes that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
However, the resolution faced immediate pushback from Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma, who contended that the proposal was not part of the assembly’s scheduled business and therefore should not be addressed.
This disagreement led to a chaotic scene in the House, with BJP legislators opposing the resolution, while other members, cutting across party lines—except for the Congress—showed support. Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Karra and leader Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed remained silent during the proceedings.
Following the voice vote that resulted in the resolution’s passage, BJP members jumped into the Well of the House, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the session.
Meanwhile, opposition leaders staged protests in the Well of the House, leading to a one-hour adjournment. However, when the session resumed, BJP leaders continued their protests, resulting in another adjournment until the following day.
