CM moves resolution in Assembly seeking immediate restoration of full statehood; cites 2000 autonomy and 2024 special-status resolutions; says PM’s word associated with the promise; rejects “half state, quarter state” formulations
Srinagar, Sep 25 (BuzzBytes): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday moved a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly calling upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
The resolution, moved during the ongoing Autumn Session of the Assembly, seeks to build upon the resolutions passed by the House on June 26, 2000 and November 6, 2024. “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 resolution states.
Moving the resolution, the Chief Minister urged members across the political spectrum to support it unanimously, emphasising that statehood was not an issue belonging to one side of the House or another, but an issue concerning the entire people of Jammu and Kashmir. “I would like to request the House to pass this Resolution, because without statehood, Jammu and Kashmir has suffered immensely. A promise was made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Referring to the sequence of delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood, he said the first two steps had been completed and the people of Jammu and Kashmir had participated in the electoral process willingly. “There was an election. People took part in the election. And they took part willingly,” he said, adding that people had hoped the third step, restoration of statehood, would follow the elections.
The Chief Minister said the Government of India had been reminded publicly, privately and at various forums that the commitment to restore statehood remained to be fulfilled. “Today, through this House, we want to remind the Government of India that something should be done about your promises,” he said. Referring to the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public function in Jammu, he recalled the Prime Minister saying “this is not an ordinary promise, this is the promise of Modi.”
Omar Abdullah emphasised the need for unanimity, saying statehood should not be viewed as belonging to either the Treasury 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.
Explaining the practical implications of the present arrangement, the Chief Minister cited the functioning of the Power Development Corporation and SKIMS as examples of areas where the elected government does not exercise full decision-making authority. He said that as Chief Minister and Power Minister, he did not have the Power Development Corporation under his control despite the elected government’s development responsibilities, and that while the government provides budgetary support to SKIMS, decisions relating to the institute are not entirely within its purview. “There are many other instances like these, which I will present at the end of this discussion in front of the House,” he said.
The Chief Minister clarified that the resolution had been carefully worded so it would not replace or undermine earlier resolutions passed by the Assembly. “This resolution neither replaces them, nor substitutes them, nor ignores them. This resolution is in addition to those resolutions,” he said, adding that the earlier resolutions continued to stand as resolutions of the House.
He also rejected any suggestion of a partial restoration. “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, concluding by urging members to participate in the discussion and support the call for restoration of full statehood—(BuzzBytes)
