Art 370 is history, can’t be restored: BJP
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Nov 4: There was an uproar in the Legislative Assembly today as People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed-Ur-Rehman Parra introduced a resolution against the Central Government’s 2019 decision that revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special Constitutional status.
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This move prompted opposition BJP legislators to demand that the resolution be expunged from the Assembly records.
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Parra made his statement shortly after veteran National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather was unanimously elected as Speaker. While congratulating Rather, Parra drew parallels between this Assembly and the 1951 Constituent Assembly, noting both were formed during pivotal moments when Jammu and Kashmir’s relationship with the Centre was under negotiation.
“I have a simple request to accommodate our resolution, which may be out of protocol. Keeping in mind the sentiments of Jammu and Kashmir, we demand this House to oppose the revocation of its special status and continued disempowerment,” he said.
Reading from his resolution, Parra stated: “The House adopt resolution Opposing the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and the Constitutional disempowerment enacted through the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019, and calls for its complete rescission. The House further resolves to strive for the restoration of the original Constitutional guarantees granted to Jammu and Kashmir.”
The resolution led to commotion in the House, with BJP members rising from their seats, protesting the move. “This is inappropriate on the first day. Such matters should not be introduced in this House,” said BJP Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma.
Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA Sheikh Khursheed and J&K Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone supported Parra’s resolution.
Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather attempted to restore order, stating that he had not yet received the resolution and would examine it before taking a decision on whether to expunge it. “I’ll need to review it and then decide. I urge BJP members to stay calm and let the Chair make the final call,” he said.
After the session, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti praised Parra on social media, calling him “proud” for introducing the resolution.
Speaking to reporters, Parra emphasized that the resolution echoed the sentiments of local parties and aimed to restore the legacy of Sheikh Abdullah and Maharaja Hari Singh. “This Assembly must represent the people’s unhappiness with the decision of August 5, 2019,” he said.
Parra said that this was the first Assembly session since the 2019 decision that led to Jammu and Kashmir’s reorganization and the end of its special status. He emphasized that restoration of Article 370 and Statehood had been campaign promises for every political party, especially Omar Abdullah’s National Conference.
Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference president Sajjad Lone, while speaking to the media after the session, pledged to support any resolution on Article 370. “It is not a closed book; in the session ahead, the issue of Article 370 will be raised. The core of this session is going to be Article 370. The BJP and NC stood together in opposition to the resolution. It was five versus 85. Now, the NC must tell the people whether they are in favour of it or against it. Even in the LG’s address, there is no mention of Article 370, while the NC manifesto stated that on the first working day, a resolution would be brought forward,” he said.
BJP president Sat Sharma said that the BJP will block any move or reference in the Assembly on Article 370. “While some people do not want peace in J&K, the BJP will not let them succeed,” he said.
BJP MLA from Vijaypur, Chander Prakash Ganga, termed the commotion unfortunate, emphasizing that the resolution was not part of the scheduled business. “It is a matter of the past and cannot be reinstated. We will continue to oppose it. They should forget about Article 370. The BJP has secured the highest vote share in J&K, and we will live up to the people’s expectations. At the same time, we will not allow anyone to tamper with the Constitution,” he added.
BJP MLA from Ramgarh, D.K. Manyal, argued that the resolution was not on the agenda and that the Speaker should not have entertained it, calling it against the Assembly’s rules. “The new representatives must follow the rules. We will oppose the resolution whenever it is brought to the Assembly. The PDP is only interested in publicity,” he said.
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