Congress-NC Alliance Moves Resolution for Restoration of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly

In the assembly elections held in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress and National Conference contested the elections on the promises of restoring the state to the state and implementing Article 370. The people of the valley also gave a majority to the Congress and National Conference alliance, after which Omar Abdullah became the new Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. Now to fulfill its election promise, the Omar Abdullah government on Wednesday presented a resolution in the assembly for the restoration of Article 370, which was passed by the Speaker. Meanwhile, many BJP MLAs sitting in the opposition created a ruckus in the House and also raised slogans.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs tore copies of the document and raised slogans against the National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP MLAs repeatedly disrupted the proceedings with slogans like '5 August Zindabad', 'Jai Shri Ram', 'Vande Mataram', 'Anti-national agenda will not work', 'Anti-Jammu agenda will not work', 'Pakistani agenda will not work' and 'Speaker Hai Hai', resulting in the adjournment of the House. BJP MLAs tore copies of the document and raised slogans against the National Conference-led government in Jammu and Kashmir.

The National Conference and the BJP fiercely targeted each other during the proceedings. Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma accused the Speaker of being partisan, "We have reports that you (the Speaker) called a meeting of ministers yesterday and prepared the resolution yourself." BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma said the resolution was prepared "in connivance with the Speaker in a guest house". He said, "The mandate (of the assembly elections) was in favour of repealing Article 370 as we (the BJP) got 26 percent votes as against NC's 23 percent. Today he has acted as NC leader.

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was revoked by the Centre on August 5, 2019. The resolution said, 'This Assembly reaffirms the importance of special status and constitutional guarantees that protect the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.'