On Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution for the restoration of its special status, stating the ‘Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives’ of the Union Territory to work out ‘constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions’.
‘The Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal’, said the resolution.
It further added that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Surinder Choudhary, National Conference legislator and Deputy Chief Minister, moved the resolution. The BJP’s Sunil Sharma, the Leader of the Opposition, opposed it, stating it was against the rules and was not a part of the House business.
This led to a ruckus in the House with BJP legislators opposing the resolution, and all other members, cutting across party lines. Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Karra and leader Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed remained silent. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather warned that he would put the resolution to vote. The BJP continued to protest and both sides raised slogans in favour and against the resolution
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