Srinagar, February: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is set for a heated session as Peoples Conference leader Sajad Gani Lone has submitted a resolution demanding the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A, which were revoked on August 5, 2019. The resolution, filed with the Assembly secretariat, strongly condemns the central government’s actions on that date and calls for the reinstatement of Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-August 5 constitutional status.
According to sources cited by the Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Lone criticized the previous resolution introduced by the National Conference (NC)-led government during the last Assembly session, describing it as “ambiguous” and lacking a clear rejection of the 2019 decisions. In contrast, Lone’s resolution explicitly condemns the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A and urges the restoration of the region’s former constitutional framework.
The NC-led resolution, passed earlier, had taken a more measured tone, expressing concern over the removal of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status but stopping short of outright condemnation. It stated, “This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of J&K, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.” The resolution also emphasized the need to balance national unity with the aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir’s people.
However, opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peoples Conference (PC), criticized the NC’s resolution as “watered-down” and insufficient. The Congress also pointed out that the resolution focused solely on restoring statehood and did not explicitly call for the reinstatement of Article 370.
Lone’s move is expected to spark intense debate in the upcoming Assembly session, with political tensions already running high over the contentious issue of Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional status. The resolution underscores the ongoing political divide in the region, as parties grapple with the fallout from the 2019 decisions and their implications for the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
(Inputs from KNO)
