Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Rejects Sajad Lone's Amendments on Article 370 and Statehood
In a session marked by significant political tension, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Tuesday rejected amendments proposed by Peoples Conference MLA Sajad Lone. These amendments sought the restoration of Article 370, Article 35-A, and the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. The rejection occurred during Lieutenant-Governor Manoj Sinha's address to the assembly's budget session, which had commenced on Monday without mentioning these contentious issues.
Speaker's Ruling and Political Bedlam
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, a member of the governing National Conference (NC), dismissed Lone's amendments, citing procedural rules. He pointed out that the House had already passed a resolution on special status during its first session in November 2024, and parliamentary rules do not permit further discussions on previously debated matters. Additionally, Rather emphasized that granting statehood falls under the jurisdiction of the Central government, advising Lone to focus on issues within the J&K government's competence.
The assembly session was characterized by bedlam, primarily fueled by the BJP's persistent demands for establishing a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu. This issue has become a polarizing factor, with BJP MLAs arguing that Jammu offers better security, weather, and road connectivity for such an institution. Students have taken to the streets in support of this demand, adding to the political pressure.
Accepted Amendments and Outside Reactions
Despite the rejection of his key proposals, Sajad Lone noted that four of his other amendments were accepted. These included matters concerning daily wagers, the NLU debate, and condemnation of attacks on Kashmiris outside Jammu and Kashmir. Outside the assembly, Lone dismissed protests by NC MLAs for statehood and special status as "theatrics," asserting that history would judge based on what was said and decided inside the House.
NCP MLA Mubarak Gul reiterated that demands for statehood and special status would be raised again during the ongoing session, highlighting the ongoing political divide. The NLU controversy has further intensified, with Lone referencing former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's assurance about the university's location. Currently, J&K lacks an NLU, and the demand for it to be based in Jammu gained momentum after Omar Abdullah indicated last year that it would be established in Budgam, Kashmir.
NLU Debate and Kashmiri Harassment Concerns
Omar Abdullah has rejected the BJP's demands for an NLU in Jammu, labeling them as "politically motivated." He pointed out that there were no protests in the Valley when Jammu received both an IIT and an IIM, questioning the motives behind the current uproar. As House proceedings resumed on Tuesday, BJP MLAs renewed their calls for the NLU, while NC and PDP legislators shifted focus to alleged harassment of Kashmiri Muslims outside J&K.
BJP MLA Surjit Singh Slathia highlighted the student demonstrations in Jammu, affirming his party's support for their cause. Meanwhile, NC MLAs, joined by some PDP lawmakers, raised concerns about the safety of Kashmiris in various parts of the country. PDP MLA Muntazir Mehdi clarified his support for the cause rather than the NC, indicating cross-party alignment on this issue.
PDP's Waheed-ur-Rehman Para moved an adjournment motion to discuss alleged attacks on Kashmiris, describing them as "hate crimes." However, Speaker Rather rejected this motion, noting that the Omar Abdullah-led government has already addressed the issue with various states. He expressed gratitude to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for taking recent action in one such case, underscoring ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of Kashmiri citizens.
