Synopsis
Regional political parties in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly expressed reservations about the National Conference’s resolution on restoring special status. While supporting the resolution’s intent, parties like the PDP and People’s Conference criticized its vague language, lack of explicit condemnation of the 2019 abrogation, and omission of Article 370.
IANSSrinagar: The regional political parties supported the National Conference resolution on restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly but expressed reservation about the framing and wording of the draft.
They claimed that the NC ‘lacked conviction’ in bringing such a resolution as it seems to be a ‘vague and a half hearted attempt.’
Former chief minister of J&K Mehbooba Mufti said that the resolution only expresses ‘concern’ and ‘calls for dialogue’ and it fails to explicitly oppose or condemn the decisions of August 5, 2019, when special status of J&K was abrogated and the erstwhile state of J&K was downgraded into the two union territories of J&K and Ladakh.
The PDP is planning to bring amendments to this resolution to make the language more clear. Mufti said that PDP’s resolution on 370, brought on the first day of the assembly by its legislator Waheed ur Rehman Para was more definitive, calling for the complete restoration of J&K’s special status as it was before 2019.
“We initiated this resolution. But NC’s draft is ambivalent and there is no condemnation of August 5 2019 decisions and Article 370 has not been mentioned clearly,” said Para adding, “There is no need or requirement of dialogue for restoration. It is our right and should be restored.”
The NC resolution passed in the assembly stated that “This legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of J&K, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.”
It further stated that the assembly “emphasizes that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of J&K”.
The resolution also called upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of J&K for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.
“The resolution writer has been too economical in the wording of the resolution, which could make it prone to differing interpretations…This resolution will have to be supplemented by explicit terminology,” said Sajad Lone of People’s Conference.
He further stated that the legislators should be unambiguous in their disdain and contempt for 5 August 2019. “We should clearly state that the will of the people of J&K as embodied in the state assembly has clearly expressed that J&K should be reverted to Pre 5 August, 2019 status. We need to remove the ambiguities,” said Lone.
The Awami Ittehad Party legislator Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh said that there were some crucial gaps in the resolution as there was no specific mention of Article 370 or 35A. “AIP stands firmly for the full restoration of Article 370 and 35A that are the pillars of J&K’s identity, autonomy and rights. “NC must honor its promises with a clear, unwavering stance, as these provisions are more than legal clauses—they are the heart of our region’s identity,” said Sheikh.
