IIOJK Assembly Seeks Immediate Restoration of Full Statehood, BJP Protests Autonomy Reference

IIOJK Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed uproar after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved a resolution seeking the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, triggering strong protests from BJP legislators over a reference to the 2000 autonomy resolution.

The resolution, moved after Question Hour, stated that in addition to resolutions passed by the House on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024, the Assembly called upon the Government of India for the “immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood” to Jammu and Kashmir and resolved that the resolution be forwarded to the Centre.

Moving the resolution, Omar Abdullah recalled the Centre’s earlier stated roadmap of delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood, saying the final step was still pending. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurances, he described the commitment as “Modi Ka Wada” and said it should be fulfilled.

The Chief Minister also cited administrative difficulties faced by Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory, particularly in the functioning of the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). He said files relating to the institute did not come before the elected government and that the Health Minister could not take decisions on the institution, while the Finance Department allocated funds without control over their expenditure.

The reference to the June 26, 2000, autonomy resolution became the main point of contention. The resolution, passed during the previous National Conference government headed by Farooq Abdullah, had sought greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir based on the constitutional position that existed before August 9, 1953.

BJP legislators strongly objected to the reference and said they would not allow any discussion on autonomy in the Assembly. BJP MLA R.S. Pathania said, “We will not allow discussion on the issue of autonomy in the House.”

BJP members entered the well of the House, raised slogans, climbed onto seats and tore copies of the resolution. Members of the ruling National Conference and Congress responded with counter-slogans, including “Sada Haq Ithey Rakh,” leading to prolonged pandemonium.

Omar Abdullah later clarified that the resolution was specifically focused on restoration of statehood and did not seek a fresh vote on Article 370, special status or autonomy. He said the earlier resolutions would remain on record and had neither been diluted nor replaced.

“We just want a vote on statehood... so that we know where the BJP stands,” Omar Abdullah said, rejecting the suggestion that the resolution was anti-national or unconstitutional.

The heated exchanges disrupted proceedings, while the resolution is set to be taken up for detailed discussion during the ongoing autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.