The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday calling for the restoration of Article 370, which had previously granted the region special status. The resolution, introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and supported by National Conference (NC) leader and Minister Sakina Masood, highlighted the importance of preserving Jammu and Kashmir’s unique identity, culture, and rights.
The resolution moved by the government said, “This Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special and Constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses concern over the unilateral removal.”
BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma strongly opposed the move, questioning the timing of the resolution during a session that was intended for discussing the Lieutenant Governor’s address. “When the business of the house was the discussion on the Lt Governor’s address, how could the government move such a resolution?” he protested amid the uproar.
The resolution found support from Independent MLAs Sheikh Khurshid Ahmed, Shabir Ahmad, and Sajad Lone of the People’s Conference, as well as three MLAs from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). After Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put the motion to vote, it passed by a majority, although the session remained chaotic, leading the Speaker to adjourn the house for 15 minutes.
While the resolution has no legal power to restore Article 370, it represents a significant political statement from the Jammu & Kashmir government, placing it in direct opposition to the central government. Article 370 and the related Article 35A were abrogated by Parliament on August 5, 2019, a decision later upheld by a Supreme Court constitutional bench.
