Legislative Standoff in Jammu and Kashmir: Lone's Article 370 Push Rebuffed by Assembly Leadership

In a significant legislative confrontation, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly proceedings witnessed a direct challenge regarding constitutional status when Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone pressed for the inclusion of Article 370 restoration in Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha's address. Assembly Speaker Rahul Sharma delivered a decisive ruling, rejecting the amendment on jurisdictional grounds. The Speaker formally clarified that matters of statehood and constitutional status fall exclusively within the purview of the Central Government, advising legislators to confine discussions to subjects within the competence of the Union Territory administration. This procedural ruling underscores the continuing delimitation of authority in the post-2019 governance framework. Outside the chamber, Lone reported partial success, noting acceptance of four other proposed amendments addressing substantive local issues: regularization concerns for daily wage workers, establishment of a National Law University in Srinagar, and official condemnation of attacks against Kashmiri residents outside the territory. This episode highlights the persistent political maneuvering around Jammu and Kashmir's constitutional status while revealing the operational boundaries currently defining the legislative agenda in the region.