PDP member brings anti-Article 370 resolution in J&K assembly; BJP resists, CM Abdullah says only govt can do it

On the first day of the sitting of the newly formed assembly, People's Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Wahid Parra moved the resolution against the Centre's withdrawal of special status in 2019.

Soon the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers opposed the resolution.

Speaker Rahim Rather, who is from the ruling National Conference, said he had approved any such resolution.

Lauding the MP, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti posted on X, "Proud of Waheed Parra for introducing resolution in JK Assembly opposing the revocation of Article 370 and resolve to restore the special status God bless you."

Reacting to the resolution, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in the House, " The reality is that the people of J&K do not approve of the decision taken on 5th August 2019. If they had approved, then the results today would have been different. The House will together discuss how the resolution to that effect shall be passed."

"A single member can't decide how the resolution will be passed. Individual members can bring resolutions during the private members business in the House. But for now in this session, only the treasury bench can bring the resolution."

"The resolution which has been brought (by the PDP member) has no significance. Its sole aim is publicity. They would have discussed with us on the matter if they had a true intention," the Chief Minister added. 

In a historic move, the BJP-led Centre on August 5, 2019 abrogated Articles 370 and 35A stripping the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir of special status.

The Centre also bifurcated the erstwhile state into two union territories, namely Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

For the first time since the abrogation, Jammu and Kashmir headed for the assembly elections in September-October 2024.

The assembly elections brought the NC-Congress alliance to power but significantly saw BJP's dominance in the Jammu region of the union territory.

The NC-Congress alliance won 48 seats (42 of NC and 6 of Congress) with majority of them yielded from the Kashmir valley while the Bharatiya Janata Party swept the Jammu region winning 29 seats.

PDP has won only three seats in a significant drop from the figure of 28 which it had registered in the last assembly elections held in 2014.