Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 28
Jammu and Kashmir’s opposition BJP on Monday said it supported restoration of the region’s statehood but opposed a government resolution that also referred to earlier assembly resolutions on autonomy and special status.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the BJP would support a resolution dealing solely with statehood but objected to references to the assembly’s 2000 autonomy resolution and its 2024 resolution on special status.
“If the CM brings only a statehood resolution, we will support it. Statehood is the agenda of the BJP, and we are committed to it,” Sharma told reporters.
The resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah calls for the “immediate and urgent” restoration of full statehood and refers to resolutions passed by the assembly in 2000 and 2024.
Sharma said those references raised constitutional issues relating to the period before 1953 and were unacceptable to the BJP.
The 2000 resolution endorsed the State Autonomy Committee report and sought greater constitutional autonomy for the erstwhile state. The 2024 resolution called for dialogue with the central government over special status and constitutional guarantees.
Sharma said the BJP considered those issues settled following the constitutional changes of August 2019 and the Supreme Court’s 2023 judgment upholding them.
He said the Centre remained committed to restoring statehood but rejected a deadline set by Abdullah.
“Statehood will be given, and we are committed to it. Discussions should not be taken in a hurry,” Sharma said.
The BJP opposed the resolution in the assembly, entered the Well of the House, and later walked out before the measure was passed.
