Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passes resolution on restoration of special status

J&K Assembly passes resolution to restore special status under Article 370, sparking backlash from BJP legislators.

The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Assembly on Wednesday (November 6, 2024) passed a resolution on restoring the special status to J&K. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution on the restoration of special status guaranteed under Article 370 to J&K, which sparked sharp reactions and furore from the BJP legislators present in the House.

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Speaker Abdur Rahim Rather put the resolution to vote and it was passed with the majority of legislators supporting it. The National Conference’s (NC’s) resolution was also supported by non-coalition partners. All the three legislators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) legislator Sheikh Khursheed, Independent legislator Shabir Kullay, J&K Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone supported the resolution.

The NC has the support of 55 legislators in the 90-member House. The support of the non-coalition legislators on the resolution pushed the number of supporters to 60 legislators.

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Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary, while addressing the third day of the J&K Assembly, moved a resolution, which underlined that “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”.

It said, “This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of J&K for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and to work out the constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.”