Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 25
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Friday said restoration of statehood was a public demand and not an issue limited to the ruling National Conference (NC) or the Omar Abdullah government.
Choudhary was speaking after BJP legislators disrupted proceedings in the Legislative Assembly over a resolution moved by Omar seeking restoration of full statehood.
“This resolution is nothing new,” Choudhary told reporters, saying the government was seeking to remind the Centre of its stated sequence of delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood.
He said nearly two years had passed since the Assembly elections and statehood had not been restored.
Choudhary said the BJP should have participated in a debate rather than disrupting proceedings, adding that the government wanted the party to make its position clear in the Assembly.
He said the issue of statehood and the region’s constitutional status was being raised by people across Jammu and Kashmir and was not solely an NC demand.
Choudhary also said a debate was needed on the broader question of the region’s status and special constitutional arrangements.
The deputy chief minister criticised the conduct of BJP legislators during the proceedings and said the disruption had prevented discussion of other issues, including the flood situation in the Pir Panjal region.
BJP legislators have said they are prepared to debate restoration of statehood but oppose discussion of the 2000 autonomy resolution and Article 370.
The Assembly was adjourned until Monday following the disruption.
