Srinagar, Sep 25: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Congress, and People’s Conference (PC) MLAs on Friday extended their support to the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Assembly seeking restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The PDP legislators, however, called for an explicit reference to Article 370 and Article 35-A in the resolution as well.
PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Para said his party was in favour of the resolution but termed its wording vague, stating that Article 370 should have been clearly mentioned.
“We favour the resolution but the wording is vague and Article 370 is not mentioned. It should also be clearly mentioned in the resolution,” Para said.
PDP MLA Aga Muntazir said he supported the resolution and urged the National Conference (NC) to amend it to include restoration of Article 370 and Article 35-A.
He said the August 5, 2019, decision that ended J&K’s special constitutional status and re-organised the erstwhile state should also be condemned in the resolution.
Muntazir said such a reference would convey to the Government of India that the decision was not acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the reaction of BJP members in the Assembly was expected as the resolution represented the aspirations of the people.
Meanwhile, People’s Conference leader and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone criticised the BJP’s objections to the resolution, saying the constitutional relationship between J&K and India could not be viewed separately from the commitments and assurances associated with the events of 1947.
Lone alleged that the BJP was “making noise” because it had no substantive argument against the resolution.
“The political and constitutional relationship between J&K and India cannot be divorced from the commitments and assurances surrounding the events of 1947,” he said.
Lone sad that J&K was a part of India because of the events of 1947. “Promises were made to us in 1947. Because of that, we are here,” he said.
Lone said restoration of statehood should not be viewed as an act of governmental charity and termed the withdrawal of statehood a “very bad act”, alleging that it was driven by “stubbornness” and “hatred”.
He said the constitutional relationship that developed following accession, including the autonomy arrangements that existed before and after the 1953 watershed events and the subsequent constitutional framework, could not simply be erased from the historical record.
Referring to the wider question of autonomy, Lone said issues concerning J&K’s special constitutional position, including commitments associated with accession and subsequent arrangements formed part of the political understanding under which the relationship between the region and India developed.
“What does the BJP know? They just arrived the day before yesterday. You should talk about 1947,” he said.
On the possibility of pursuing a judicial route on the statehood issue, particularly after CM Omar indicated that legal options could be explored, Lone said the immediate priority was to get the Assembly resolution passed.
“We will look at the legal route later. First, let us focus on passing the resolution here,” he said.
Congress MLA NizamuddinBhat said restoration of statehood was not a matter of political discretion as the commitment was made in Parliament.
He said the Prime Minister and Home Minister made the commitment publicly and also referred to observations of the Supreme Court on the issue.
“This is a promise given in Parliament. This is an observation of the Supreme Court,” Bhat said. However, he said that BJP members were attempting to create noise instead of addressing “a genuine issue concerning the people of J&K.”
“This is a genuine problem. People have got a mandate,” Bhat said. He also referred to the Assembly election verdict, saying the BJP did not secure a majority and that the election results reflected the people’s response to the developments of the past few years.
