The Jammu & Kashmir Assembly on Monday passed a resolution for the restoration of full statehood status for the Union territory. The House witnessed protests from the Opposition, the BJP, which demanded the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
The BJP's legislators have filed a motion against the Speaker for allowing the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
This is an interesting development considering it was the first time the J&K Assembly had passed the 'statehood' resolution since the Assembly election in 2024.
The restoration of statehood was one of the key points in Abdullah's first cabinet meeting since his National Conference government came into power. In November 2024, the Assembly passed a resolution seeking the restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees as existed prior to the Abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
The Assembly sought a dialogue with the Union Government on the matter; however, it did not happen. Now, the Assembly has gone a step further and passed a resolution seeking the immediate restoration of 'full statehood'.
While moving the latest resolution, CM Abdullah said: "In addition to the resolutions passed by this House on 26 June 2000 and 6 November 2024, the House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and resolves that this resolution be forwarded to the Government of India."
On Monday, Abdullah said: "We are not begging.. we are demanding our right."
On August 5, 2019, the Centre ended the special constitutional status for Jammu & Kashmir guaranteed by Article 370. It led to the state being split into two Union Territories - Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, the latter without a legislature.
A day after the repeal of Article 370, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the statehood would be restored 'once the situation normalises'. The BJP-led Centre has maintained that statehood would be restored, although it has not specified a timeline.
The BJP in the state has been protesting the reference to 'greater autonomy' mentioned in the resolution.
The J&K Assembly would not be able to bring back the special status on its own as the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutional changes relating to Article 370.