JAMMU, OCT 1: The BJP on Thursday stepped up its opposition to the National Conference government’s handling of the Jammu and Kashmir statehood issue, staging a protest in Gangyal and asserting that the demand for restoration of statehood should not be linked with attempts to revisit the constitutional position that existed before August 5, 2019.
The protest was led by J&K BJP General Secretary Baldev Singh Billawaria and witnessed participation of party activists, office-bearers and local residents. Protesters raised slogans against the National Conference government and burnt an effigy of the NC government as part of the demonstration.
The protest comes days after the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly passed a resolution seeking the immediate restoration of full statehood. The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, referred to earlier Assembly resolutions of June 2000 and November 2024. BJP legislators opposed those references, while the House ultimately passed the statehood resolution amid a BJP walkout.
Addressing the protesters, Billawaria said the BJP supports the restoration of statehood but would oppose any attempt to connect the statehood demand with the restoration of the constitutional arrangements that existed prior to the 2019 changes.
“Statehood and the pre-1953 agenda are two entirely different issues,” Billawaria said, alleging that the National Conference was using the statehood demand to keep the issues of autonomy, Article 370 and Article 35A in political circulation.
The controversy centres on the wording of the Assembly resolution, which stated that it was in addition to resolutions passed by the House on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024. The 2000 resolution accepted the recommendations of the State Autonomy Committee, while the 2024 resolution sought dialogue with the Centre for restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees.
During the debate on the latest resolution, several legislators had moved amendments seeking references to the restoration of the special status that existed before August 2019, including Articles 370 and 35A. These amendments were subsequently withdrawn, while the principal statehood resolution was passed by voice vote.
Billawaria said the BJP would not support what it described as an effort to revive the pre-1953 autonomy agenda, while maintaining that the party supports the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
He also targeted the Omar Abdullah government over what he described as unfulfilled election commitments, including promises concerning 200 units of free electricity and free gas cylinders, and argued that the administration should focus on development, employment, basic amenities and delivery of welfare commitments.
“The people want development, employment, basic amenities and accountable governance, not a return to the politics of the past,” Billawaria said.
The BJP leader further alleged that the ruling party was diverting attention from governance-related issues by repeatedly raising constitutional questions. The National Conference, however, has maintained that restoration of statehood is a central political demand and that its Assembly resolution was focused on securing the return of full statehood. Omar Abdullah has also questioned the lack of a clear timeline for restoration of statehood.
The Gangyal protest thus brought the broader political divide over Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional and administrative future onto the streets of Jammu, with the BJP distinguishing between restoration of statehood and any demand to return to the pre-August 2019 constitutional framework.
Among those present at the protest were J&K BJP All Cells In-charge Ved Sharma, District Prabhari Praduman Singh, District President Naresh Singh Jasrotia and SC Morcha President Dharminder Kumar, besides other party office-bearers, activists and local residents.
