Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 25
The Legislative Assembly descended into disorder on Friday after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved a resolution seeking the immediate restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory.
The resolution calls on the Government of India to restore full statehood and says it should be forwarded to the Centre.
It also refers to resolutions passed by the House in June 2000 and November 2024.
Omar urged legislators to debate the measure and pass it unanimously, saying it would remind the Centre of its stated commitment to restore statehood.
He cited comments previously made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi referring to statehood as a promise and said the commitment should have been fulfilled.
The move triggered protests from Bharatiya Janata Party legislators, who objected particularly to the reference to the June 2000 resolution seeking greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP members raised slogans and entered the Well of the House, while members of the ruling National Conference and Congress responded with counter-slogans supporting statehood and raising other issues.
BJP legislator R S Pathania said his party would not allow a discussion on autonomy.
The BJP also alleged that the resolution had been introduced without being included in the list of business circulated to members. BJP legislator Vikram Randhawa accused the Speaker of bringing the measure through the “backdoor”.
The protests continued after a brief adjournment. Randhawa was marshalled out of the House after he attempted to lift a chair, according to the proceedings.
The Speaker later adjourned the Assembly until Monday.
The June 2000 resolution, passed by the then National Conference government headed by Farooq Abdullah, had sought restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. The House passed another resolution in November 2024 seeking restoration of the region’s special status and constitutional guarantees.
