Srinagar: In a significant moment for Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Territory’s first-ever Legislative Assembly session began in Srinagar today with PDP MLA Waheed Para moving a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and calling for the restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
As soon as Para, who represents the Pulwama constituency, moved the resolution, there was a ruckus in the house as all 28 BJP MLAs resorted to protest and sloganeering.
Addressing the house over Para's resolution, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, "We knew that preparation for this was being made by a member...The reality is that the people of J&K do not approve of the decision taken on 5th August 2019. If they had approved, then the results today would have been different. How the House will reflect and discuss this will not be decided by any one member. The resolution brought today has no importance but it is only for the cameras. If there was a purpose behind it, then they would have discussed this with us before..."
In his address, L-G Manoj Sinha said the government will make all efforts for the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. "...My government will make all efforts for the restoration of full statehood and constitutional guarantees available to the state. It would be a reciprocation of the faith reposed by the people of J&K in our democratic institutions...," Sinha said.
Former J&K Chief Minister and PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti meanwhile lauded her party leader Parra for introducing the resolution. "Proud of Waheed Parra for introducing resolution in JK Assembly opposing the revocation of Article 370 and resolve to restore the special status. God bless you," she said in a post on X.
To mention, even if the resolution for restoration of Article 370 is passed by the J&K legislative Assembly, it would have no bearing on the supremacy of the Indian Parliament on this issue.
The five-day long session of the Assembly began at 10.30 am with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha’s address following which veteran National Conference leader and seven-time MLA Abdul Rahim Rather was elected the Speaker.
The BJP has already announced Sunil Sharma, MLA from Padder-Nagseni constituency of Kishtwar, as Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and Narinder Singh as the party's candidate for the Deputy Speaker’s post.
While Tuesday has been reserved to honour the memories of former members and public figures, a traditional pause for reflection, the house is likely to see more animated proceedings in the days after. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is scheduled to wrap up the discussions over the Lieutenant Governor’s address on November 8.
On Sunday, party leaders gathered to finalize strategies for the session. Major political players, including the NC, Congress, CPI (M), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and five independent MLAs supporting NC, came together in a unified front. Presiding over the gathering, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah emphasized the importance of solidarity among coalition partners for the upcoming debates and decisions.
The focus of the session will be the pursuit of statehood. The J&K cabinet recently passed a resolution calling for this, a move Lieutenant Governor Sinha supported. Shortly afterwards, Chief Minister Abdullah travelled to New Delhi, where he presented the statehood resolution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During his visit, Abdullah met with other senior leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, to push for a swift return to statehood—a step he sees as crucial for self-governance and regional stability.
Read More
