The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly has passed a resolution calling for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, following a heated session marked by protests and a walkout by opposition BJP members.
The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was approved through a voice vote on Monday. It had initially been introduced the previous Friday but was deferred after several legislators sought an opportunity to speak on the matter.
The debate unfolded amid strong opposition from BJP members, who protested inside the House and objected to references concerning autonomy and special status. BJP legislators entered the well of the House, tore business papers and held mock proceedings as the discussion continued.
The resolution calls on the Government of India to urgently restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. It also refers to earlier resolutions passed by the Assembly, including one from June 26, 2000, and another adopted on November 6, 2024.
The 2000 resolution, passed during the National Conference-led government headed by Farooq Abdullah, had called for the restoration of greater autonomy that existed before August 9, 1953. In November 2024, the Assembly passed another resolution seeking the restoration of special status.
During the latest discussion, several legislators, including members of the ruling National Conference, proposed amendments that would have included a reference to restoring special status. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, urged members not to press those amendments.
Abdullah argued that the Assembly had already addressed the issue of special status through earlier resolutions and said the immediate focus of the latest resolution should remain on restoring full statehood. Following his appeal, eight MLAs agreed not to press their proposed amendments.
The Speaker subsequently put the resolution to a vote while BJP members continued their protest. The resolution was passed by voice vote after the BJP walked out of the House.
The BJP opposed the resolution, arguing that references to autonomy and special status were inconsistent with its interpretation of the Constitution. BJP members said they would not allow the resolution to be discussed or passed in its existing form.
The passage of the resolution adds another chapter to the continuing political debate over Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional position, statehood and the powers of its elected government. For residents and political observers, the issue remains closely connected to the broader question of how governance and political representation will evolve in the Union Territory.
The latest development also highlights the continuing differences between the ruling National Conference-led government and the BJP over Jammu and Kashmir’s political future. While the Assembly has formally called for the restoration of full statehood, the resolution itself is a political request to the Government of India and does not by itself restore statehood.
For people living in Jammu and Kashmir, the debate goes beyond proceedings inside the Assembly. Questions surrounding statehood, representation, governance and political rights continue to carry significant public interest, making developments in the Assembly closely watched across the region and beyond.
