Srinagar: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed ur Rehman Para’s resolution, seeking restoration of Article 370, triggered an uproar on the first day of the inaugural session of the newly elected assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.
BJP opposed the move and demanded immediate expunging of the remarks from the assembly records, accusing PDP of spewing venom. Chief minister Omar Abdullah said the resolution has no importance as the people of J&K have already rejected the decisions of August 5, 2019, and one member cannot decide how it will be discussed in the House.
Para, who won from Pulwama constituency of south Kashmir, read out the resolution after he welcomed the unanimous election of veteran National Conference leader Abdul Rahim Rather as the Speaker.
“This House opposes the revocation of the special status of J&K and constitutional disempowerment of J&K through the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 and calls for its complete rescinding. The House further resolves to strive for restoration of special status and all constitutional guarantees granted to J&K in their original, pristine form,” read the resolution, a copy of which was handed over to the Speaker.
Para’s resolution signed by the three PDP MLAs was supported by Sajad Lone of People’s Conference, Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh of Awami Ittehad Party and independent MLA Shabir Kulay.
However, Abdullah said the majority of the people in the House have raised their voice against the decisions of August 5, 2019, but how it will reflect in the House and how it will be put on record here cannot be decided by one member.
“The resolution brought today has no importance. Unfortunately, other than feeding cameras, it has no aim. If there was some aim in this resolution, then probably they would have consulted with us to decide what would be presented here on behalf of the House,” said Abdullah.
Meanwhile, LG Manoj Sinha, during his address to the assembly, said: “My government will make all efforts for restoration of full statehood and constitutional guarantees available to the state.”
