Why Omar Abdullah is unruffled by criticism of his party’s resolution on special status: ‘We’ve told the world that…’
With PDP stealing the limelight on Day 1, CM says, ‘We could have brought a resolution on the first day (of the Assembly session) that they (the Centre) would have thrown into the trash; what would that achieve?’
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with other MLAs in the Assembly, in Srinagar, Thursday, November 7, 2024. (PTI Photo)
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With regional parties criticising the National Conference’s resolution on restoration of special status, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday said his party wanted to bring a resolution that “cannot be ignored by the Centre” and forces them to initiate dialogue. The language of the NC’s resolution expressing “concern” over the “unilateral move” by the Centre to revoke J&K’s social status has been criticised by regional parties as being too vague, even as the BJP calls it “illegal”.
Speaking on the sidelines of an event in his home constituency, Ganderbal, on Thursday, Omar said, “We could have brought a resolution on the first day (of the Assembly session) that they (the Centre) would have thrown into the trash; what would that achieve? We wanted to raise a voice in the Assembly that forces the Centre to hold a dialogue with us. One that they cannot ignore.”
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Emphasising that the Assembly has sent a message that the events of August 5, 2019 are unacceptable to the people of J&K, the CM said, “It was done without our consent, consultation or our wishes.” Addressing criticism that the resolution was not brought on the first day of the Assembly session on Monday, he said, “We are aware of the rules and regulations of the Assembly and we know how to bring these things through the Assembly.”
Inside the assembly, the Peoples Democratic Party stole the march on the issue, with its MLA Waheed Parra moving a resolution in the Assembly on Day 1, opposing the revocation of J&K’s special status in 2019, done through abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution by the Centre.
The Omar government’s resolution, moved by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary the next day, was more carefully worded. It said: “This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal… This Assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.”
The resolution prompted BJP members to storm into the Well of the House and disrupt proceedings, leading to an adjournment. Later in the day, leader of opposition Sunil Sharma termed the resolution “illegal and unconstitutional”.
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On the other hand, Independent MLA Sheikh Khursheed along with People’s Conference president Sajad Lone and three PDP MLA sought additions in the resolution passed in the Assembly and called for a stronger rejection of the events of August 2019. After continued disruptions, the session was adjourned on Thursday and will continue on Friday for its last sitting.
Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies.
Expertise
Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics.
Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers:
Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state.
Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights.
Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More
