The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday, September 28, passed a resolution calling for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, amid protests and a walkout by BJP legislators.
The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was passed by voice vote after the BJP members walked out of the House. It will now be forwarded to the Government of India.
The resolution referred to earlier resolutions passed by the Assembly in 2000 and 2024 and called for the “immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood” to Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar says resolution is about statehood
Replying to the debate, Omar Abdullah said the resolution was specifically about restoring statehood and did not ask the House to vote on Article 370, Article 35A or autonomy.
He criticised attempts to introduce amendments referring to these issues, arguing that they could provide the BJP with grounds to oppose the resolution.
The BJP had objected to references to Jammu and Kashmir’s earlier constitutional position, including the 2000 autonomy resolution. BJP legislators said they supported statehood but opposed linking the demand with the pre August 2019 status.
Omar said Jammu and Kashmir had already waited two years for the Centre to act on its commitment regarding statehood.
“We have waited for two years. For two years, we waited for the Central Government to fulfil its promise,” he said.
He also referred to the Supreme Court’s December 2023 judgment, which directed that elections be held and statehood be restored at the earliest. Omar questioned what the Centre meant when it said statehood would be restored at an “appropriate time”.
Omar questions linking statehood to militancy
Omar also questioned whether the restoration of statehood was being linked to the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
He argued that if statehood depended on the complete end of militancy, the decision could effectively depend on Pakistan, which the Centre has repeatedly accused of supporting militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“If you are saying that statehood will not return until militancy ends in Jammu and Kashmir, then the decision regarding Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood will not be made in New Delhi; it will be made in Islamabad,” Omar said.
He argued that the decision on statehood should remain with the Government of India.
Omar cites functioning of UT government
The Chief Minister also said the absence of statehood affects the functioning of the elected government.
He referred to letters sent by the Chief Secretary and Law Secretary to the Assembly regarding the statehood resolution. Omar said he had not been informed about the Law Department’s opinion opposing consideration of the resolution despite holding the Law portfolio.
“The absence of statehood affects us every single day,” he said.
Omar also referred to several areas where he said the elected government has limited authority, including revenue administration, developmental schemes, cultural institutions and certain university appointments.
He said the government’s Business Rules, sent to the Centre nearly two years ago, were still awaiting approval.
Omar says statehood is a right
Omar rejected the argument that the demand for statehood was linked to the interests of the National Conference or his family.
“This state belongs to all of us; it belongs to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He also criticised the BJP over its references to Maharaja Hari Singh, arguing that the party’s position on the issue was inconsistent with its criticism of the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s earlier status.
The BJP has maintained that it supports restoration of statehood but opposes references to Article 370 and the pre August 5, 2019 constitutional arrangement.
Resolution passed after BJP walkout
The BJP opposed the manner in which the resolution was taken up and objected to its references to earlier resolutions. Its legislators protested in the House and later walked out before the vote.
The resolution was subsequently passed by voice vote, with no BJP member voting against it.
Concluding his speech, Omar said Jammu and Kashmir was not seeking statehood as a favour from the Centre.
“We are not beggars. We were humiliated, we were degraded, and we want answers and justice for this humiliation,” he said.
“This is not a favour from the Centre; this is not a gift or bounty from the Centre.”
The resolution now calls upon the Government of India to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir immediately.
