Srinagar: As the Omar Abdullah led Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday passed a resolution seeking restoration of special status, the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee said that the grand old party supported the people's anger through a resolution passed in the CWC on August 5, 2019.
In a statement issued in this regard, Congress' J&K MLA and former JKPCC President, Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that it was “apparently crystal clear during the assembly elections that people vehemently oppose the reorganization of J&K and want their dignity and honour to be restored besides safeguarding their rights”.
“The Congress Party strongly emphasized that Statehood to J&K with constitutional guarantees including protection of rights, land, jobs, resources, cultural identity, etc must be restored, without any further delay,” Mir added.
He said that the Congress party insisted that Jammu and Kashmir should be granted statehood with constitutional guarantees that protection of rights, land, jobs, resources, cultural identity etc. should be restored without further delay.
Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday demanding the restoration of the special status of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Deputy Chief Minister Surindra Choudhary moved a resolution in the Assembly urging the BJP-led central government to initiate talks for the restoration of special status.
An uproar broke out in the House soon after, as BJP leader and LoP leader Sunil Sharma opposed the resolution and said Parliament had abrogated Article 370 and it could not be restored.
Meanwhile, JKPCC President Tariq Hameed Karra in a statement said that the Congress Party welcomes the resolution passed by the J&K assembly seeking restoration of constitutional & democratic rights of the people of J&K including fully empowered statehood along with all constitutional guarantees.
"After the Hon’ble Supreme verdict, this is the first democratic expression of the people of J&K reflecting the aspirations of the people. There should be no reason for the Central Govt to deny rights and protection to the people of J&K that are already in vogue in many other parts of the country," Karra said.
He said that the Indian National Congress(INC) is "committed to fight for statehood to J&K and safeguarding the rights of its people to land, jobs, natural resources and its unique cultural identity".
The JKPCC chief said that the BJP’s opposition to the resolution "makes it evident that their petty political interests are not only at loggerheads with the aspirations of the people of J&K but also their sole priority, no matter at what cost".
"It (BJP) is not only disrespecting the overwhelming sentiment of the people of J&K, but are actively hindering the process of restoration of constitutional and democratic rights, guarantees like that of cultural identity, land, jobs, natural resources. They cannot claim to represent our people while acting against their rights. The resolution provides a much needed opportunity for a meaningful engagement between New Delhi and the people of J&K in the backdrop of mistrust created by the acts of BJP Govt over the last several," Karra said.
BJP Protests
The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit staged a protest in Jammu on Wednesday outside party headquarters in Trikuta Nagar against the resolution on the restoration of J&K's special status, which was passed by the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Wednesday.
BJP workers under the leadership of State President Sat Paul Sharma assembled outside the party office and shouted slogans against the National Conference and set ablaze an effigy of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his deputy, Surinder Choudhary.
On the occasion, BJP Jammu Kashmir Unit president Sat Paul Sharma said that "by passing such resolutions, the national conference is wasting time, as NC knows very well that Article 370 can't be restored, especially during the rule of BJP in the Centre".
He said that Article 370 was "history now and the National Conference can't restore article 370".
He also criticized the Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary, for introducing the proposal calling for the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Sharma said that Chowdhary "should focus on developmental works rather than wasting time on baseless proposals".
Resolution 'too economical in wording': PC
People's Conference (PC) Chairman Sajad Lone expressed his support for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly's recent resolution on restoring special status of the region, while cautioning that the resolution was "too economical in wording" and left room for varied interpretations. Lone urged that clearer, unambiguous language is essential to reflect the will of Jammu and Kashmir's people, calling for explicit condemnation of the August 5, 2019 changes.
"We had always said that we will support anything which is even remotely related to restoration of Article 370, 35A, restoration of statehood, and unequivocal condemnation of the majoritarian onslaught against J&K," Lone stated, affirming PC's backing of both the J&K government and PDP-led resolutions.
In anticipation of today's session, Lone revealed that his party had submitted a notice seeking an adjournment to prioritize a discussion on the events of August 5, 2019."We had already given a notice and sought an adjournment under rule 56, praying that all business of the house be set aside and instead discussion be initiated about the events of 5 August, 2019, its fallout on the inhabitants of J&K and federal structure. But we didn't press for allowing it when the resolution was circulated this morning."
Lone stressed the significance of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, being the first elected body in the region since the August 2019 changes. "In the context of 5 August 2019, this Assembly is the most powerful and relevant institution," he said. "The resolutions passed here represent the will of the people of J&K, carrying moral and political weight. What this body expresses about 5 August, 2019 has legal connotations too. I welcome and support this resolution. But this is the start not the end."
Despite his overall support, Lone voiced some reservations, noting that the language of the NC's resolution lacked precision. "The resolution writer has been too economical in wording, which could make it prone to differing interpretations," he said, calling for clear, unambiguous language condemning the 2019 changes and reflecting the Assembly's desire for a return to pre-August 5, 2019 status. According to Lone, such clarification would better convey the will of the people, leaving no room for ambiguity."We need to remove the ambiguities."
As part of this effort, Lone announced that JKPC had also submitted amendments to the Motion of Thanks on the Lieutenant Governor's address, including explicit calls for condemning the August 2019 constitutional changes. "There are a series of amendments that we have proposed. These amendments I believe can help remove the ambiguities. Hope that the amendments are supported by the House."
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