Omar Abdullah Tables J&K Statehood Resolution as Autonomy Reference Sparks BJP Furore

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tabled a resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly seeking the immediate restoration of full statehood, triggering intense opposition protests and physical scuffles over references to historical autonomy decisions. The tabled document specifically cites past assembly resolutions passed on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024, prompting Bharatiya Janata Party legislators to tear up copies of the motion and shout anti-national slogans inside the House.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the proceedings for 30 minutes following unruly scenes and fistfights between ruling National Conference legislators and opposition members. The core dispute centers on the text citing the June 2000 resolution adopted under the Farooq Abdullah government, which sought greater autonomy as it existed before August 9, 1953, alongside the November 2024 special status resolution.

Historical parliamentary records indicate that past autonomy discussions involved proposals rendering specific constitutional articles inapplicable to the region, alongside limiting the jurisdiction of financial and electoral authorities. The legislative assembly later reaffirmed the significance of prior constitutional guarantees while calling for dialogue with elected representatives.

Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma launched a severe attack against the government, labeling the resolution controversial, disputed, and invalid. Sharma asserted that the BJP would never tolerate any attempt to revive the 2000 autonomy motion, which was rejected by the central government during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tenure. The opposition leader questioned Omar Abdullah regarding his ministerial tenure in the Vajpayee cabinet at that time, accusing the ruling dispensation of smuggling in contentious terminology to whip up public sentiment and deflect from administrative failures over the past two years.

BJP legislators stormed the well of the House and refused to participate in normal legislative debate, leading to counter-prologues from National Conference members who displayed banners demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir autonomy and Article 370. Sharma challenged the government's motives, alleging that the administration deliberately engineered the controversy to delay statehood restoration because its governance is facing intense scrutiny.

Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to resign rather than offering excuses for governance failures, pointing to unmet electoral pledges such as providing one lakh jobs, free electricity, and removing smart meters. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court previously noted that the union territory status is temporary and urged statehood restoration at the earliest.

Defending the inclusion of prior legislative decisions, Omar Abdullah told reporters outside the House that the references were added to clarify that the assembly continues to stand by all past decisions without replacing or ignoring them. The Chief Minister maintained that the cabinet alone was not viewed by the Centre as the sole voice of the people, necessitating a legislative push representing a broader political spectrum that includes parties outside the government.

Omar challenged the opposition BJP to cast a direct vote on statehood rather than creating disruptions to avoid accountability. Urging the 29 BJP legislators to participate in an open discussion scheduled for Monday, the Chief Minister stated that lawmakers should vote yes or no on statehood so the public can judge their stance clearly. Congress legislators supported the resolution, while the CPM, Peoples Conference, and PDP also backed the push for statehood restoration in the assembly.