On Monday, the first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, started after a gap of six years, witnessed tensions after the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para moved a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and called for restoring the union territory’s special status.
Para, who represents the Pulwama Assembly seat, submitted the resolution to newly-elected Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather and requested for a discussion on the matter during the five-day session. It said, ‘Although the agenda of the House has been finalised, we believe that your authority as the Speaker allows the inclusion of the resolution, as it reflects the sentiment of the people at large’.
All 28 Jammu and Kashmir BJP MLAs stood up to oppose the move, resulting to noisy scenes inside the Assembly. BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma demanded Para’s suspension for bringing the resolution in violation of Assembly rules. The Speaker requested the protesting members to take their seats, but they continued their agitation. He said the resolution has not come to him yet and when it does, he would examine it.
National Conference MLAs slammed them for interrupting the proceedings of the House. Addressing the session, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the resolution has “no importance and it is only for the cameras”. He said, “How the House will reflect and discuss this (matter) will not be decided by any one member. If there was a purpose behind it (resolution), then they would have discussed this with us before”.
The Chief Minister also admitted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir do not approve of the decision taken on August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, “My government will make all efforts for the restoration of full statehood. It would be a reciprocation of the faith reposed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir in our democratic institutions.”
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said she was “proud” of Waheed Para for submitting the resolution. Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, ‘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’.
Article 370 was a provision in the Constitution that granted special autonomy to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. It allowed the state to have its own constitution, flag, and autonomy over internal matters except defense, communications, and foreign affairs. On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, effectively removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganising it into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
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