Aazan Manzoor
Srinagar, Sept 25 (JKNS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday said the resolution moved by him in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly seeking restoration of full statehood was aimed at conveying the voice of the elected House to the Government of India.
Addressing a press conference at the Assembly, as per news agency JKNS, CM Omar said it had been nearly two years since elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir and recalled that people had been promised restoration of statehood after the completion of the delimitation and election process.
He said the resolution was brought to urge the Government of India to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir immediately.
Omar said the resolution was not seeking a vote on Article 370, special status or autonomy, adding that the Assembly had already passed earlier resolutions on those issues.
“The resolution that has been brought does not subsume those resolutions. We are not bringing those resolutions for a vote again. The House has already passed them,” he said.
Clarifying the reference to the earlier resolutions, Omar said the latest resolution was brought “in addition” to them and would not replace, dilute or override them.
He said if the BJP wanted to replace or remove those earlier resolutions, it could bring a separate resolution before the House and seek a vote.
Omar also questioned the BJP’s opposition to the statehood resolution and said, according to him, the issue was simply whether members supported or opposed restoration of statehood.
“Today, we are asking for a vote on statehood only,” he said, urging BJP members not to abstain, walk out or create disruptions during the debate.
“If they are in favour of statehood, say yes. If they are against statehood, say no. People will know,” Omar said.
He rejected the description of the resolution as “anti-national”, saying the resolution sought restoration of full statehood and did not contain, in his view, anything anti-national or unconstitutional.
Omar said the purpose of the resolution was to take the voice of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to New Delhi and seek restoration of full statehood.
He further said statehood was not an issue concerning the government, his family or any particular political party.
“Statehood is not about the government. Statehood is not about my family. Statehood is not about a political party or an individual. Statehood is about the entire Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The Chief Minister also said he was ready to discuss the performance of his government over the past two years if the BJP wanted such a discussion in the House.
The resolution moved by Omar on Friday seeks the “immediate and urgent” restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and proposes that it be forwarded to the Government of India. (JKNS)
