• BJP protests 2000 autonomy reference
• Members storm Well, copies torn
• BJP MLA Randhawa marshalled out as House erupts
Srinagar|Sept, 25: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday moved a resolution in the Legislative Assembly seeking the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, triggering a stormy session as BJP members objected to its reference to the 2000 autonomy resolution.
The resolution was moved after Question Hour and called upon the Government of India to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and forward the resolution to the Centre.
“In addition to the resolutions passed by this House on 26 June 2000 and 6 November 2024, this House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to J&K and resolves that this resolution be forwarded to Government of India,” the resolution stated.
The 2000 resolution, passed by the then National Conference government headed by Farooq Abdullah, had sought restoration of greater autonomy to the erstwhile state. The Assembly had subsequently passed another resolution on November 6, 2024 seeking restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees.
The reference to the 2000 resolution became the immediate flashpoint in the House, with BJP members questioning why autonomy had been included in a resolution specifically seeking restoration of statehood. The BJP maintained that it would not allow any discussion on autonomy in the Assembly.
The move had not figured in the original business circulated by the Assembly Secretariat, though the resolution was subsequently included in the supplementary list of business for September 25.
Moving the resolution, CM Omar said the House should deliberate on and pass it, arguing that the non-restoration of statehood had proved detrimental to Jammu and Kashmir.
He said a commitment had been made to the people of J&K that a three-step process would be followed—delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood.
“A commitment was made with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The commitment was made in Parliament, the Supreme Court as well as in different public gatherings that a three-step process would follow: first delimitation, then elections, and then statehood,” Omar said.
He said delimitation and elections had been completed and that people had participated in the elections in large numbers.
“The delimitation process was completed. I would not go into how it was carried out. Elections also took place and people participated in large numbers. We did not receive complaints from any area that voters were coerced to vote,” he said.
CM Omar said people had also voted in areas where such participation had not been expected for decades, suggesting that many had participated with the expectation that statehood would follow the elections.
He said his government had repeatedly reminded the Centre about its commitment to restore statehood.
“But the commitment has not been fulfilled. We want to remind the Government of India that something should be done about this commitment,” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier statements on the issue, CM Omar said the Prime Minister had associated his name with the commitment.
“The Prime Minister associated his name with the promise. I and the Leader of Opposition were present at the function where I spoke about statehood and said this was the Government of India’s commitment. When the Prime Minister addressed the gathering, he said ‘Modi ka vaadahai’,” Omar said.
The Chief Minister said the reference to the 2000 and 2024 resolutions had been included after deliberations to avoid any impression that the fresh resolution was replacing earlier positions of the House.
“We have chosen the words of the resolution after due deliberations so that nobody misinterprets it,” he said.
CM Omar said the current resolution neither replaced, subsumed nor ignored the earlier resolutions.
“This House owns those resolutions. They stand, and we own those resolutions,” he said, adding that the fresh resolution was “in addition” to them.
The resolution was welcomed by members of the ruling National Conference and Congress, who thumped their desks. PDP members and the lone AAP member also supported the resolution.
However, BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia immediately objected to the reference to the 2000 autonomy resolution.“What does the Government want to discuss?” Jasrotia asked.
The treasury benches responded that the issue was “autonomy”, leading to heated exchanges.
BJP legislator Balwant Singh Mankotia said the party would not allow autonomy to be discussed in the House.NC members responded with slogans including “Hum cheenkelayengeapnahaq”.
The exchanges soon escalated, with BJP members raising slogans and moving towards the Well of the House. Some BJP legislators climbed onto seats and tore copies of the resolution.
BJP members raised slogans including “Jis Kashmir meinbalidanhua Mukherjee, woh Kashmir humarahai” and “Deshketukdenahisahenge”.
NC members countered with slogans demanding restoration of rights and special status.
Congress legislators also joined the NC members in opposing the BJP protests. PDP legislators and People’s Conference MLA Sajad Gani Lone also stood up in support of the resolution.
Congress legislators Irfan Hafiz Lone, Iftikhar and Nizamuddin Bhat, along with independent MLA Shabir Kulley, attempted to enter the Well but were prevented by marshals.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather repeatedly appealed to members to maintain order. With the uproar continuing, he adjourned the House for half an hour.
When the House resumed, BJP members again raised slogans against the resolution and its reference to autonomy.Minister Sakina Masood Ittoo questioned the legal basis for the continued absence of statehood.
“Tell us the law under which statehood was taken away from us. Tell us the law which allows you to tear the papers,” she said during the exchanges.
The minister also objected to gestures made by BJP members during the confrontation.
The situation intensified further when BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa was involved in the commotion and was subsequently marshalled out of the House. KNO reported that the House was later adjourned till Monday amid continued protests.
BJP members also raised slogans including “Deshketukde hum nahisahenge” and “Bijli pani jo de nasaki, wohsarkaarnikamihai”.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary said the government was ready for a discussion on the resolution.
Amid the uproar, NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq described the development as historic in a post on X.
“Today, history is made in the J&K Assembly,” Sadiq said, adding that the reference to the 2000 and 2024 resolutions reflected what he described as the National Conference’s continuing position on the issue.
He said the “struggle for dignity, identity and statehood continues”.
