North India Statesman
A fierce political face-off erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly as Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma strongly condemned the ruling National Conference (NC) over its newly passed statehood resolution. Addressing reporters and party functionaries at the BJP headquarters in Srinagar, Sharma made it clear that while the BJP wholeheartedly endorses the restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, it will vehemently oppose any backdoor attempt to revive the “pre-1953” constitutional status, Article 370, or the decades-old autonomy framework.
“Sabotaging Statehood with Rejected Slogans”
Sunil Sharma accused Chief Minister Omar Abdullah of deliberately attempting to derail and sabotage the Union Territory’s transition back to full statehood. The controversy centers on the wording of the resolution moved by the Chief Minister, which stated it was “in addition to” historic resolutions passed by the House on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024. The 2000 document represents the NC’s contentious autonomy resolution passed under Farooq Abdullah, which sought a return to the pre-1953 position featuring separate titles such as Sadr-e-Riyasat and Wazir-e-Azam. Sharma argued that the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government had formally discarded that demand decades ago and questioned why the current dispensation was seeking to “smuggle in” a rejected agenda under the guise of an administrative statehood plea.
“Dual Flag and Dual Constitution Are History”
Emphasizing that the constitutional integration of Jammu and Kashmir is settled law backed by the Supreme Court of India, the Leader of Opposition labeled any talk of restoring Article 370 or bringing back a “dual flag and dual constitution” as a direct affront to the Constitution of India. Sharma also revealed that during his discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, serious displeasure was expressed regarding efforts by regional parties to resurrect discarded slogans that hold no relevance in modern Jammu and Kashmir. He maintained that statehood is a commitment already outlined by the Centre following delimitation and peaceful democratic elections, but insisted it cannot be conflated with sub-national autonomy.
Floor Test of Allegiances and Political Escalation
The contentious session saw high drama on the Assembly floor, with BJP legislators raising slogans, tearing copies of the resolution, and walking out in protest. Criticizing the conduct of the Speaker for facilitating language that challenged the dignity of the House, Sharma noted that the BJP Legislature Party had even moved a motion seeking the Speaker’s removal. Challenging coalition partner Congress to explicitly clarify its official stance on Articles 370 and 35A, the LoP affirmed that the BJP will carry this ideological opposition directly to the public across Jammu and the Kashmir Valley to counter regional narratives.
