Srinagar, Sep 25: Leader of Opposition (LOP) Sunil Sharma on Friday said the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) was prepared to debate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in the Legislative Assembly but would not allow any discussion on Article 370 or the Autonomy Resolution passed by the erstwhile Assembly in June 2000.
Addressing reporters after noisy scenes and disruptions over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statehood resolution, the LOP called the measure “controversial and disputed” and questioned why the Autonomy Resolution of June 2000 had been cited in a text that purported to seek only statehood.
“Today’s resolution moved by the Chief Minister is controversial and disputed. The BJP had rejected the autonomy resolution and even tore it up. Why is that resolution being discussed again in today’s resolution?” he said.
The resolution moved by CM Omar after the Question Hour read: “In addition to the resolutions passed by this House on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024, the House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and resolves that this resolution be forwarded to the Government of India.”
The BJP members objected to the 2000 reference, stormed the Well of the House, climbed onto seats, raised ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ slogans, and tore copies of the resolution.
Ruling National Conference (NC) and Congress members countered with slogans of their own.
This disrupted the proceedings in the House.
On June 26, 2000, the NC government headed by Farooq Abdullah passed a resolution seeking restoration of greater autonomy as it existed before August 9, 1953, a period when the state had its own Prime Minister and Sadr-e-Riyasat.
The AtalBihari Vajpayee-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre rejected the resolution outright.
On November 6, 2024, after the Assembly was reconstituted following the 2024 elections, the House passed another resolution calling for restoration of J&K’s special status and constitutional guarantees revoked on August 5, 2019.
BJP members had protested that resolution as well.
Sharma said the BJP’s position had not changed.
“If you want to debate statehood, we challenge you. We are ready to debate on statehood. But you want to make Kashmiris fool in the name of statehood,” he said.
The LOP alleged the government was using the statehood issue to divert attention from governance failures and to “recreate sentiments” in Kashmir after “losing ground on administration”.
The LOP also asked the Congress to clarify whether it stood with the 2000 autonomy resolution and Article 370 or with the present government’s stated demand for statehood alone.
He said that CM Omar had served as a minister in the Vajpayee government when the Centre rejected the autonomy resolution.
Responding later, the CM said the current resolution was specifically about statehood and did not replace earlier resolutions.
He said the 2000 Autonomy Resolution and 2024 resolution texts remain part of the Assembly record and that the BJP, which was in government in J&K from 2016 to 2018, had not moved any resolution to nullify the 2000 vote.
“We just want a vote on statehood. There should be a discussion, there should be a vote, so that we know where the BJP stands,” CM Omar said.
He rejected the charge that the House was being asked to vote on autonomy and said the NC did not need a “certificate” from the BJP on its nationalist credentials.
Restoration of statehood has been a standing political demand of NC since J&K was reorganised as a Union Territory in 2019.
The Centre has repeatedly said the promise of statehood stands but that timing would depend on the security situation.
The BJP has publicly supported statehood while opposing any return to the pre-2019 special-status framework or pre-1953 autonomy.
Sharma said the party would continue its protest until the Congress stated its position on Article 370 and the 2000 Autonomy Resolution and the government answered questions raised by the opposition.
The resolution is expected to be taken up for discussion and vote later in the session.
