The BJP strongly opposed the National Conference-led Jammu and Kashmir government's resolution on special status on Wednesday, tearing copies of the document in the well of the Union Territory’s House and saying it had no “legal sanctity”. Party workers also held a protest in Jammu. The Leader of the Opposition in the J&K Assembly, Sunil Sharma, said the resolution was introduced without being listed in the business of the day. “We were scheduled to discuss the address by the Lieutenant Governor. But the government cleverly and suddenly moved this resolution.” The LoP went on to term the resolution “illegal and unconstitutional”, adding it has “no legal sanctity because this (J&K) Assembly is not above the Parliament or the Supreme Court.” Calling Article 370 history, the LoP said that there could be “no one can change this history now". BJP IT department incharge Amit Malviya, however, had a different take. He posted on X that the resolution was an “interesting development” that “reflects a new approach by the ruling National Conference”. “Instead of insisting on the full restoration of Article 370, the resolution calls for open dialogue on the issue — a significant shift that acknowledges the new reality, post 5th Aug 2019,” he posted. Sharma also attacked the Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, for what had transpired in the Assembly, saying he was “part of the government’s discussions for drafting the resolution” and calling him a “political worker”. Targeting Chief minister Omar Abdullah, Sharma said, “They have a habit of misleading the people of Kashmir. People who used to indulge in street politics by fooling people in the name of 370, autonomy or Jamaat-e-Islami… They are worried about the peace that has settled in after August 5, 2019.” Sharma added that the NC “wants to bring poor people on the streets again” by introducing the conversation on statehood. Sharma also attacked NC ally Congress for supporting the resolution in the Assembly. “I want to ask Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party to clarify their position on the abrogation of Article 370. Otherwise Congress will have to answer for this nationally." Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir said the party had in a statement in August 2019 "endorsed the resentment of people against downgrading and bifurcation of erstwhile J&K state”, describing the Centre's move as undemocratic and unconstitutional. The BJP also held a demonstration in Jammu and called on the central government to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the Union Territory.
