SRINAGAR; In a historic and dramatic session on Wedensday , the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly passed a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370, which had granted the region special status before its revocation by the Government of India in August 2019.
The resolution, brought forward by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary of the National Conference (NC), garnered majority support despite strong objections and chaos instigated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The resolution called for the restoration of Article 370 and other constitutional guarantees that safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It further urged the Government of India to initiate dialogue with the region’s elected representatives to restore these provisions while balancing national unity with the legitimate aspirations of the people of the region.
Sakina Masood Itoo, the Minister, seconded the resolution, which was then moved for a vote by Choudhary. Despite the BJP’s vocal opposition, led by Sunil Sharma, who argued that the resolution was not part of the scheduled business for the day and raised procedural objections, the majority of Assembly members voted in favor of the motion.
The BJP’s protest turned into a full-scale uproar, with party members creating a “hungama” in the house, disrupting proceedings. The Speaker, in the midst of the chaos, ultimately passed the resolution, but the session was adjourned due to the disorder caused by the BJP’s protests.
Earlier, Sajad Lone, leader of the People’s Conference, had called for an adjournment of the Assembly’s business to discuss matters related to Article 370, signaling the ongoing urgency of the issue for many political leaders in the region. (KDC)
