Omar Abdullah: J&K Assembly’s Special Status Resolution Still Stands, No Need for Fresh Motion
Jammu, March 3: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday reaffirmed that the resolution passed by the J&K Assembly last year seeking the restoration of special status has not been rejected by the Central government, which he termed as a significant development. He dismissed the need for bringing another resolution on Article 370, asserting that the matter had already been addressed in the first session of the Assembly.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Abdullah emphasized that all legislators should focus on working together to fulfill public welfare priorities instead of revisiting settled matters. “What needed to be done was accomplished in the first session in November 2024. The resolution on special status was passed with support from the PDP and others. The fact that it is still holding and has not been rejected outright by the Centre is a major achievement,” he said.
His comments came in response to reports that some members were considering introducing a fresh resolution to condemn the abrogation of Article 370, which was revoked in August 2019. Abdullah stated that the passage of the earlier resolution had already sent a clear message and that there was no need for repetitive motions.
The J&K Assembly’s 40-day Budget Session, comprising 22 sittings, commenced on Monday with an address by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Addressing concerns that resolutions on special status might face outright rejection, Abdullah reiterated that the existing resolution still stood, reinforcing its relevance. “Since the resolution was neither dismissed nor overridden, there is no point in discussing the matter further,” he said.
The resolution, passed on November 6, 2024, had urged the Centre to explore a constitutional mechanism to restore the special status of the erstwhile state. Abdullah maintained that the National Conference would not engage in symbolic gestures by reintroducing the same demand. “We have already taken the necessary step. If we had failed to pass a resolution, discussions would have been relevant. However, since the House has already adopted it with a majority, there is nothing further to debate,” he asserted.
On the ongoing Assembly session, Abdullah confirmed that members would discuss the Lieutenant Governor’s address on Tuesday and encouraged them to raise their concerns within the House. When asked about the protest by independent MLA Khursheed Ahmed—who demanded justice for two civilians killed in Sopore and Kathua while also calling for the restoration of Article 370 and statehood—Abdullah responded that such matters should be addressed inside the Assembly rather than through demonstrations.
“The government will respond to every issue raised by the members in the House. The lieutenant governor’s address outlined the government’s priorities, and cooperation from all legislators is essential to achieving collective progress,” he said.
Dismissing speculation about any potential alliance with the BJP, Abdullah firmly ruled out such a possibility, stating that the National Conference and the BJP hold vastly different ideologies and approaches regarding Jammu and Kashmir. “There is a fundamental and irreconcilable difference between our positions—our outlooks are as distant as heaven and earth,” he concluded.
