Jammu, 04-03-2025: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday turned into a battleground of heated exchanges as Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma strongly opposed any discussion on Article 370, calling it a futile and misleading exercise. He asserted that the abrogation of Article 370 was a settled matter, upheld by the Supreme Court, and no state assembly had the authority to overturn a parliamentary decision.
Sharma’s remarks came in response to J&K Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone, who had sought amendments to the Lieutenant Governor’s speech, raising issues related to Article 370, the Public Safety Act (PSA), the 1987 elections, and police verification procedures. However, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather dismissed Lone’s proposed amendments, citing procedural constraints. “As per Rule 187, a discussion on Article 370 cannot take place within a year of a resolution on the same issue,” Rather stated.
Addressing Lone’s other concerns, the Speaker said that the 1987 elections were a matter of the past and did not warrant discussion in the House. On PSA and police verification, he clarified that these matters fell under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and could not be debated unless Jammu and Kashmir regained statehood.
Frustrated by the rejection of his amendments, Lone staged a walkout, accusing the National Conference (NC) of siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Meanwhile, Sharma reiterated the BJP’s position, stating that Parliament had already settled the matter of Article 370’s abrogation and further debate was unnecessary. “It is a waste of time to discuss something that has already become history. Those who lack constitutional understanding continue to harp on this issue,” Sharma said. “The Supreme Court has upheld the decision, and no assembly in the country has the power to undo it,” he added while addressing reporters outside the Assembly.
Taking a sharp jibe at Lone, Sharma accused him of rekindling his affinity for Pakistan, referencing Lone’s familial ties across the border. “His love for Pakistan has resurfaced, given that his in-laws are there,” Sharma remarked. He further claimed that Lone was frustrated after narrowly securing his election victory and found himself politically isolated in the Assembly.
Notably, during the inaugural session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in November last year, Lone, along with PDP’s Waheed Parra and Awami Ittehad Party’s (AIP) Sheikh Khursheed, had backed a resolution advocating for the restoration of J&K’s special status.