Srinagar, Sept 25: The Legislative Assembly on Friday witnessed uproar and noisy scenes after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah moved a resolution demanding full restoration of statehood to J&K, prompting strong protests and sloganeering from BJP members who objected to mention of 2000 autonomy resolution.

As the Question House of the Assembly ended today, Omar rose from the chair to introduce a resolution on full restoration of statehood to J&K.
“In addition to the Resolutions passed by this House on 26th June 2000 and 6th November 2024, this House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and resolves that this Resolution be forwarded to Government of India,” the resolution states.
Moving the resolution, the CM urged members across the political spectrum to support it unanimously, emphasising that statehood was not an issue belonging to one side of the House or another, but an issue concerning the entire people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I would like to request the House to pass this Resolution, because without statehood, Jammu and Kashmir has suffered immensely. A promise was made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Referring to the sequence of delimitation, elections and restoration of statehood, he said the first two steps had been completed and the people of Jammu and Kashmir had participated in the electoral process willingly.
“There was an election. People took part in the election. And they took part willingly,” he said, adding that people had hoped that the third step of restoration of statehood would follow the elections.
The CM said the Government of India had been reminded publicly, privately and at various forums that the commitment to restore statehood remained to be fulfilled.
“Today, through this House, we want to remind the Government of India that something should be done about your promises,” he said.
Referring to the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said, “When the Prime Minister was giving his speech, he said that this is not an ordinary promise. This is the promise of Modi.”
Omar also emphasised the need for unanimity on the issue, saying that statehood should not be viewed as belonging to either the Treasury or Opposition benches.
“Statehood is neither of this side nor that side. It is not only of this House. If there is statehood, then it is of the whole of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The BJP members objected to reference to June 26, 2000 autonomy resolution, passed during the Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference government and argued that the House should not reopen the autonomy issue.
The protest soon escalated, with BJP legislators entering the well of the House and raising slogans. Some members climbed onto seats and tore copies of the resolution into pieces, creating a chaotic scene in the Assembly.
BJP members questioned the rationale behind raking up the autonomy issue in the House, created a ruckus, raised slogans and disrupted proceedings.
National Conference members, however, defended the move, asserting that the party would continue to pursue what it described as the rights of Jammu and Kashmir.
Both sides resorted to intense sloganeering.
“Jis Kashmir mein balidan hua Mukherjee, woh Kashmir humara hai (The Kashmir where Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life is ours),” and “Desh ke tukde nahi sahenge (We will not tolerate the division of the nation),” BJP legislators shouted.
NC legislators countered with slogans like “Special status ko wapas karo (Return special status).”
As the uproar continued, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather initially adjourned the house for half an hour and later adjourned the house for the day.
Referring to the unruly scenes and sloganeering by BJP MLAs, the CM said, "You saw how the BJP reacted to this. Because they simply do not want to vote on statehood. They want to back out of this vote under one pretext or another."
Omar said the resolution specifically sought the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
“Show me a single anti-national word used in the resolution,” Omar said.
He clarified that the statehood resolution was distinct from earlier resolutions regarding autonomy and other issues already passed by the House.
“If the BJP wants to dilute the already passed resolutions, let them bring a resolution. Who am I to oppose them if they have the votes? This is what democracy is,” he remarked