BJP storms Well; Randhawa marshalled out
Omar says resolution seeks only ‘full Statehood’
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed a major uproar on Friday after BJP legislators objected to the inclusion of a reference to the 2000 autonomy resolution in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s resolution seeking immediate restoration of full Statehood to J&K, with BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa eventually being marshalled out of the House.
The disruption erupted soon after Abdullah moved the resolution, which calls upon the Government of India to “immediately and urgently” restore full Statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and forward the resolution to the Centre.
BJP members entered the Well of the House, raised slogans and protested the reference to the resolution passed by the Assembly on June 26, 2000, when J&K was a State. Some BJP legislators also tore copies of the resolution.
Despite repeated appeals by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to the protesting members to return to their seats, the disruption continued, with members of the Treasury and Opposition benches exchanging slogans.
BJP MLA R S Pathania said the party would not allow any discussion on autonomy in the House. Randhawa was subsequently marshalled out amid the continuing protests.
The Speaker later adjourned the House for half an hour to restore order.
The resolution moved by Abdullah states: “In addition to the Resolutions passed by this House on 26th June 2000 and 6th November 2024, this 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 Government of India.”
The 2000 resolution had sought greater autonomy for J&K, while the November 6, 2024 resolution sought restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees.
Explaining the wording of the fresh resolution, Abdullah later said it was exclusively about restoration of full Statehood and did not seek to reopen the issues of autonomy or special status.
“The resolution we brought in today in the House is only about the restoration of the Statehood. It does not speak about autonomy or the special status of J&K,” Abdullah said at a press conference.
He said the reference to the earlier resolutions was included only to make clear that the new resolution was in addition to, rather than a replacement for, those passed by the House previously.
“Those resolutions have already been passed and are the property of the House. In today’s resolution, we used the word ‘in addition’ only to avoid any confusion with the previous resolutions. It is solely about restoration of Statehood,” he said.
While moving the resolution, Abdullah urged legislators across the political spectrum to support it unanimously, saying Statehood was an issue concerning the entire J&K rather than the ruling or Opposition benches.
“Statehood is neither of this side nor that side. It is not only of this House. If there is Statehood, then it is of the whole of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Abdullah said the elected Government had repeatedly reminded the Centre about its commitment to restore Statehood following delimitation and elections.
“There was an election. People took part in the election. And they took part willingly,” he said, adding that people had expected restoration of Statehood to follow.
He also rejected any proposal for partial Statehood, saying J&K wanted “full Statehood” rather than a truncated arrangement.
“What we hear in the media that we will get a half state, we will get a quarter state, we will get a state without law and order. No, we do not want such a state. We have been promised a full state and we want a full state back,” he said.
Abdullah also cited the Power Development Corporation and SKIMS as examples of institutions where, he said, the elected Government did not exercise the same decision-making authority it would have under full Statehood.
He said the present resolution was intended to remind the Government of India of its commitment to restore Statehood and urged members to support it.
The Chief Minister later accused the BJP of opposing restoration of Statehood and challenged its legislators to vote on the resolution rather than walk out.
“They must come into the Assembly and vote in favour of the resolution if they want the Statehood restored, or vote against the resolution if they don’t want the Statehood restored,” he said.
The BJP’s protest, however, was specifically triggered by the inclusion of the 2000 autonomy resolution in the text of the fresh Statehood resolution.
The disruption came during the ongoing Autumn Session of the Assembly, which is scheduled to continue until September 30.
