The newly convened Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was thrown into chaos on its first day of session as opposition member Waheed Parra, representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), moved a contentious resolution calling for the restoration of Article 370. The Assembly, meeting for the first time since Jammu and Kashmir was reorganized into two union territories in 2019, saw high drama as BJP lawmakers protested loudly, leading to an adjournment.
Parra’s resolution, which argued against the scrapping of Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, sparked immediate and heated opposition from the ruling BJP members. The Speaker, Rahim Rather of the National Conference, intervened as tensions rose, adjourning the Assembly until Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address. The Assembly session, scheduled to run from November 4 to November 8, will also include obituary references for former legislators who have passed since the last J&K Assembly session six years ago.
The Contentious Resolution
Parra’s resolution, which has not yet been formally admitted by Speaker Rather, asserts the Assembly’s opposition to the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status under Article 370. It also calls for a complete reversal of the J&K Reorganisation Act of 2019, which saw the erstwhile state bifurcated into the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The resolution reads: “This house opposes the revocation of special status of J&K and constitutional disempowerment of Jammu and Kashmir through the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, and calls for its complete rescinding.” It further states that the Assembly “resolves to strive for the restoration of special status and all constitutional guarantees granted to Jammu and Kashmir in their original pristine form.”
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti voiced her support, congratulating Parra on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “Proud of Waheed Parra for introducing resolution in JK Assembly opposing the revocation of Article 370 and resolve to restore the special status.”
Who is Waheed Parra?
Parra, currently an MLA from Pulwama, is a key figure in the PDP and serves as its youth wing president. Although he contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Srinagar seat, he was unsuccessful. A Yale International Leadership Centre nominee in 2023, Parra was unable to attend his program after being denied a passport due to his alleged security profile.
In recent years, Parra has faced a series of legal challenges. In 2020, he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) just days after filing his nomination for the District Development Council (DDC) election from Pulwama, where he later secured a win while incarcerated. Despite being granted bail in January 2021, he was immediately re-arrested by the Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) on charges of alleged connections to separatist elements. Following a prolonged legal battle, he was released on bail in June 2023.
Political Fallout
The session has highlighted the enduring sensitivity of Article 370 and its abrogation, with PDP’s resolution re-igniting political fault lines in the region. The BJP, which led the charge in removing J&K’s special status in 2019, views the reinstatement of Article 370 as a non-negotiable issue.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s return after six years was expected to be a significant step toward regional governance. However, the fracas underscores the challenge of navigating the deep-seated divides left by the revocation of Article 370. Whether Parra’s resolution will make it to the floor remains uncertain, yet it clearly signals that the region’s political landscape continues to be fraught with tension and unresolved issues around autonomy and governance.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
