The Jammu and Kashmir assembly passed a resolution seeking the restoration of statehood with a reference to autonomy, prompting leader of opposition Sunil Sharma to warn that the move will strain relations between the Centre and the region. Following the vote, Sharma urged chief secretary Atal Dulloo not to forward the document to the Union government, while also demanding the resignation of assembly speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
Political Fallout Over Statehood and Autonomy Resolution
The legislative showdown follows a Monday assembly session where lawmakers adopted the resolution amid protests and a walkout by Bharatiya Janata Party legislators. The opposition members accused the National Conference and Congress of being anti-national due to references in the text linking back to the autonomy resolution passed in the House in 2000. Sharma argued that the speaker allowed not just the introduction of the resolution, but also permitted amendments condemning the abrogation of Article 370—a provision previously upheld by the Supreme Court. Consequently, the BJP has moved a motion in the assembly against speaker Rather.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who moved the resolution in the House, defended the executive process while noting he also serves as the law minister. Abdullah stated that he was unaware that his law secretary was dispatching opinions to the assembly secretariat. Prior to the vote, both the chief secretary and the law secretary had issued communications advising that the assembly could not discuss the matter because the issue remains sub judice. Sharma defended the two bureaucrats, asserting they offered the “right opinion” because the resolution is anti-constitutional and anti-national.
Centre’s Position and Bureaucratic Routing Dispute
Disagreements have also emerged regarding how the assembly secretariat processed the document after adoption. Sources indicated that the secretariat forwarded the resolution to chief secretary Atal Dulloo to send to the central government. However, National Conference legislator and retired justice Hasnain Masoodi argued that the secretariat should have bypassed the chief secretary entirely and sent the paperwork straight to New Delhi, given that the bureaucrat had already objected to the measure.
Did You Know? The disputed assembly resolution references the autonomy resolution that was originally passed by the Jammu and Kashmir House in the year 2000.
Sharma claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed displeasure regarding the assembly’s actions during a meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. According to Sharma, the home minister stated that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time, but warned that anything disturbing the peaceful situation would not be allowed. Sharma maintained that the assembly move risks encouraging separatism in the region and reiterated expectations that chief secretary Dulloo will refuse to forward the documents to the Centre.
Jammu and Kashmir assembly resolution sparks BJP protest and walkout
Who moved the resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly?
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved the resolution in the House on Monday.
What specific actions did the BJP take in response to the resolution?
BJP legislators staged a protest and walkout, accused the National Conference and Congress of being anti-national, demanded the resignation of speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, moved a motion against the speaker in the assembly, and urged chief secretary Atal Dulloo not to forward the resolution to the Union government.
What did Union Home Minister Amit Shah reportedly tell Sunil Sharma about statehood?
According to Sunil Sharma, Home Minister Amit Shah stated during a meeting in New Delhi that statehood would be restored to Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time, but added that anything disturbing the peaceful situation would not be allowed.
What are your thoughts on how the assembly and central authorities are handling the statehood resolution?