The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on September 28 passed a resolution calling for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution was adopted by voice vote after a heated debate in the House, with BJP legislators protesting and later walking out of the proceedings.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had moved the resolution on September 25, but its discussion was deferred after several legislators sought to speak on the issue. When the matter came up again, the debate turned contentious, with members of the treasury and opposition benches exchanging arguments over the wording and scope of the resolution.
The resolution calls upon the Government of India to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and to forward the Assembly’s resolution to the Centre. It also refers to resolutions adopted by the House in June 2000 and November 2024.
The reference to the earlier resolutions became one of the main points of disagreement. The 2000 resolution dealt with autonomy, while the 2024 resolution sought dialogue with the Centre on the restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees. Omar Abdullah said the latest resolution was specifically intended to press for the restoration of full statehood.
BJP legislators objected to the language of the resolution, particularly references connected with Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional position before August 5, 2019. Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the BJP supports restoration of statehood but disagrees with references that, in the party’s view, go beyond that demand.
The disagreement led to repeated disruptions in the Assembly. BJP members entered the Well of the House, raised slogans and protested against the resolution. They eventually walked out as the House proceeded with the voice vote.
During the debate, Omar Abdullah questioned the continued uncertainty over when statehood would be restored. He referred to the Supreme Court’s December 2023 judgment, which directed that elections be held and statehood restored at the earliest thereafter. Abdullah said that nearly two years had passed since the Assembly elections and argued that the Centre should clarify what it means by restoring statehood at an appropriate time.
The Chief Minister also raised concerns about the functioning of the elected government under the Union Territory arrangement. He argued that the absence of full statehood affects the government’s ability to take decisions and manage certain areas of governance.
Abdullah also questioned whether restoration of statehood was being linked to the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that if statehood depended on the complete end of militancy, there could be uncertainty over who would determine when the required conditions had been met.
The BJP, meanwhile, maintained that it supports restoration of statehood but objected to the broader constitutional references in the resolution. The disagreement reflects the wider political differences in Jammu and Kashmir over whether the current demand should focus solely on statehood or also refer to the reg
