Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Omar Abdullah said on November 4 that the resolution moved in the assembly seeking restoration of Article 370 was introduced just ‘for the cameras’ and carries no real significance.

Abdullah said if there was a genuine intention behind the resolution, it should have been discussed with the National Conference, the ruling party in the Union Territory.

“We knew that preparation for this was being made by a member. The reality is that the people of Jammu and Kashmir do not approve of the decision taken on August 5, 2019. If they had approved, then the results today would have been different. How the House will reflect and discuss this will not be decided by any one member,” Abdullah said, addressing the House soon after the newly-elected Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was marred by ruckus on the first day after opposition MLA Wahid Parra of the People’s Democratic Party moved a resolution against the scrapping of Article 370.

“The resolution brought today has no importance, but it is only for the cameras. If there was a purpose behind it, then they would have discussed this with us before,” Abdullah said.

The erstwhile state lost special status and was bifurcated into two union territories after the Narendra Modi-led Union government abrogated Article 370 in August 2019.

Waheed Parra’s Resolution

Soon after Parra, 36, started reading the resolution, BJP lawmakers in the Assembly registered opposition. The speaker adjourned the house amid calls to meet again for L-G Manoj Sinha’s address.

Jammu and KashmirJammu and Kashmir through the J&K reorganisation Act, 2019 and calls for its complete rescinding,” reads the resolution,” read the resolution.

“House further resolves to strive for the restoration of special status and all constitutional guarantees granted to Jammu and Kashmir in their original prisitine form,” it read.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti lauded the PDP leader for introducing the resolution in the assembly.

“Proud of Waheed Parra for introducing resolution in JK Assembly opposing the revocation of Article 370 and resolve to restore the special status God bless you,” the former chief minister wrote in a post on X.

The restoration of Article 370 and Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood as well as implementation of the autonomy resolution was one of the main promises made by the National conference in its manifesto for the Jammu-Kashmir elections.

The resolution brought today has no importance but it is only for the cameras.

The Congress-National Conference alliance won 49 seats in the 90-member assembly, while the BJP won 29 seats. The Assembly election was held after a gap of 10 years and since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir on September 16.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah made his inaugural visit to New Delhi on Thursday, following his recent appointment. During this visit, he presented a cabinet resolution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.

National Conference’s Historic Victory in J-K Polls

Abdullah’s National Conference achieved a significant milestone in the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, clinching 42 out of 90 seats—marking the first elections in the union territory in a decade.

Omar Abdullah was sworn in as the Chief Minister on October 16, making history as the first leader of the newly formed Union Territory.

J-K Cabinet Resolution Passed on Statehood

In its initial cabinet meeting, Abdullah’s government unanimously passed a resolution urging the central government to reinstate the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. 

This resolution urging statehood for Jammu and Kashmir received formal approval from Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, highlighting its importance in the political landscape.

CM Abdullah Empowered to Advocate for Statehood

With the cabinet’s endorsement, Chief Minister Abdullah is now positioned to engage directly with the Prime Minister and central authorities to advocate for the reinstatement of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.

CM Abdullah’s Meeting with Amit Shah Following Recent Violence

On Wednesday, Abdullah also met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his first official trip to the capital. This meeting occurred in the aftermath of a tragic terrorist attack in Ganderbal district, which resulted in the deaths of seven individuals, including a doctor and several migrant labourers.

In light of this incident, Omar Abdullah emphasised the necessity for heightened vigilance among security forces. “Now the administration, especially the police and security forces, will have to maintain their alert level even more and ensure that such attacks do not take place,” stated the Chief Minister.

The Union government is likely to initiate the process of restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, five years after the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured Chief Minister Omar Abdullah the centre’s full support to the newly elected government, a report in NDTV said quoting sources. Omar met Shah in Delhi on Wednesday.