In a historic and dramatic move, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370, which had granted the region special status before its revocation by the Government of India in August 2019.
The resolution, introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary of the National Conference (NC), called for the restoration of Article 370 and other constitutional provisions that protected the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution also urged the Government of India to engage in dialogue with the region’s elected representatives to restore these provisions, while balancing national unity with the legitimate aspirations of the people of the region.
Despite vocal opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the resolution garnered majority support in the Assembly. BJP leaders, led by Sunil Sharma, raised strong procedural objections, arguing that the resolution was not part of the scheduled business for the day. Their protests escalated into a full-scale uproar, with BJP members creating a “hungama” in the House, disrupting proceedings.
Amid the chaos, the Speaker of the Assembly proceeded with the vote, and the resolution was passed. However, the disruption led to the adjournment of the session as BJP members continued to protest.
The resolution was seconded by Sakina Masood Itoo, the Minister, and moved for a vote by Choudhary. It was clear that the issue of Article 370 remained a highly contentious and urgent matter for many political leaders in the region. Earlier in the session, Sajad Lone, the leader of the People’s Conference, had called for an adjournment of the Assembly’s business to discuss the issue of Article 370, underscoring the ongoing significance of the matter.
The passage of the resolution marks another chapter in the region’s ongoing debate over its constitutional status, highlighting the deep political divisions that continue to shape the discourse in Jammu and Kashmir since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
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