J&K Assembly’s first session erupts over Article 370.
Five years ago, the BJP-led central government took the controversial step of revoking Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. This decision, met with widespread protests and strong opposition, fundamentally altered the region’s political and administrative landscape. The move abolished J&K’s autonomy, integrating it more directly with India and splitting it into two separate union territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Proponents saw it as a means to unify the region and promote development, while critics argued it undermined regional identity and autonomy. The revocation continues to evoke intense debate and remains a politically charged issue.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly convened for its first session in six years, an event met with heated debate and strong emotions. On Monday morning in Srinagar, chaos erupted when Wahid Parra, a lawmaker from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), presented a resolution seeking the restoration of Article 370, which had been scrapped in August 2019. Article 370 had granted J&K special status, including privileges that distinguished it from other Indian states. Its removal by the central government five years ago marked a significant shift in J&K’s governance and status, resulting in the division of the former state into two union territories—Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh.
The proposal by Parra was met with immediate resistance from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers. The Speaker of the Assembly, Rahim Rather, representing the ruling National Conference (NC), emphasized that he had not yet accepted any such motion for debate, adding to the controversy and tensions within the session. This initial confrontation reflects the deep political divide that has persisted in J&K since the revocation of Article 370, a decision that remains contentious among political factions and local communities alike.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who leads the NC, weighed in on the subject, stating that he anticipated the move by Parra to reintroduce the Article 370 debate in the Assembly. Abdullah, a vocal advocate for J&K’s autonomy, previously called it “foolish” to expect the BJP to restore Article 370, especially given that the BJP spearheaded its abrogation. Addressing the assembly, he asserted, “The reality is that the people of J&K do not approve of the decision taken on August 5, 2019. If they had approved, then the results today would have been different.” His words echoed the sentiment that the region’s residents have not come to terms with the loss of special status, suggesting that the recent election results demonstrated disapproval of the 2019 decision.
Abdullah further dismissed the resolution as symbolic, suggesting it was aimed more at capturing media attention than achieving tangible results. “If there was a purpose behind it, then they would have discussed this with us before,” he stated, indicating that a serious effort would have required collaboration with the NC-led government. Nonetheless, he emphasized that the issue of Article 370 remained significant for the NC, even if it was a matter unlikely to be resolved under the current administration.
The BJP-led central government’s 2019 revocation of Article 370 had sparked widespread protests, both within J&K and from political figures across India. The move was promptly challenged in the Supreme Court, which ultimately upheld the action, citing Article 370 as a “temporary” provision. This legal ruling did little to quell the unrest among local communities and political leaders, who continue to view the Article’s removal as a dismissal of J&K’s unique identity and governance.
Restoring Article 370 was also a focal point in J&K’s recent election campaigns, the first held in the region in a decade. The NC-Congress alliance secured a sweeping victory in the October 8 election, with the NC alone winning 42 of the 90 seats. The party received additional support from four independent lawmakers and one member from the Aam Aadmi Party, allowing it to surpass the 48-seat majority needed to govern. Despite this win, Chief Minister Abdullah remains skeptical about achieving the restoration of Article 370 under the current political landscape.
In a post-election statement, Abdullah clarified his stance, saying it would be “foolish” to expect those who removed Article 370 to be the ones to restore it. However, he underscored that the NC would persist in advocating for J&K’s rights. “We have never said that we will remain silent on Article 370 or that Article 370 is not an issue for us now,” Abdullah told reporters, affirming that the NC’s position on the issue is unwavering.
The new Chief Minister also expressed hope for a shift in power at the national level, hinting that a future government might be more open to addressing J&K’s unique needs. He suggested that, under a different administration, discussions might yield a positive outcome for the region. get something for J&K,” he stated, maintaining a sense of cautious optimism.
The Assembly session reflected the enduring divide over Article 370, a topic that continues to stir passions across party lines and among residents of J&K. The NC’s recent electoral victory, Abdullah noted, represents a clear mandate rejecting the scrapping of Article 370, yet practical steps toward its restoration remain uncertain. As Abdullah and the NC navigate their leadership, the broader implications of J&K’s altered status remain at the forefront of political debate, with advocates for both sides holding firm to their perspectives. For many, the conversation surrounding Article 370 embodies the ongoing struggle for autonomy, identity, and self-determination in J&K.