Sham Lal Sharma hits back at NC-Cong, defends Article 370 abrogation as democratic move

NC-Cong slam Centre over J&K’s reorganization, BJP calls it a ‘historic correction’

JAMMU, March 4: A heated debate erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly as opposition parties accused the Central Government of undemocratically revoking J&K’s special status, while BJP leader Sham Lal Sharma staunchly defended the move, asserting that only “bad provisions” of Article 370 were removed to align the region with the rest of the country.

During the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s address, the National Conference (NC) and Congress MLAs launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central Government, accusing it of bypassing democratic procedures in the abrogation of Article 370. Congress MLA G.A. Mir claimed that the government had failed to follow due parliamentary protocol and alleged that the decision was politically motivated rather than constitutionally sound.

Responding to the allegations, BJP MLA and former minister Sham Lal Sharma countered the opposition’s claims, emphasizing that the decision was made by the Parliament, the highest democratic institution in India. “How can you call it undemocratic when it was passed by the Parliament of India, the supreme body that takes such decisions in a democracy?” Sharma remarked, dismissing the opposition’s claims as politically driven rhetoric.

Sharma further reminded the House that in the 1981 Budget Session of the J&K Assembly, Congress MLA Dharampal Sharma had moved a resolution questioning the relevance of J&K’s special status, and even then-Chief Minister Sheikh Abdullah had stated on record that its significance had diminished.

Challenging the opposition’s narrative, Sharma also raised questions about the manner in which Article 35-A was introduced into the Constitution. “If you question the constitutional process of Article 370’s abrogation, then tell us how Article 35-A was added to the Constitution without a parliamentary amendment. It was inserted through a presidential order in 1954 by the then Nehru-led government, bypassing the democratic process,” he argued. Article 35-A, which granted special rights and privileges to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated along with Article 370 by the Modi government in 2019.

Sharma also took aim at the National Conference, accusing it of hypocrisy in praising erstwhile Dogra rulers while having historically opposed them. “The National Conference launched the ‘Quit Kashmir’ movement against Maharaja Hari Singh, who was one of the most secular rulers. Today, their admiration for the Dogra Maharajas is nothing but an attempt to play to the gallery,” he said. He further criticized the absence of Dogra rulers’ contributions in school curriculums, stating, “Maharaja Gulab Singh and General Zorawar Singh extended J&K’s boundaries to Lhasa in Tibet. The Dogra rule was among the best, despite being a monarchy, but their achievements are not even mentioned in textbooks.”

The opposition benches were vocal in demanding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, with NC’s Mubarak Gul leading the call. Speaking on the Motion of Thanks, Gul reiterated that statehood was a fundamental right of the people of J&K. “Restoration of statehood is non-negotiable. The Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, has been tirelessly working towards ensuring J&K regains its rightful status,” he asserted.

Ghulam Ahmad Mir of Congress echoed this sentiment and reminded the House that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured J&K leaders during an all-party meeting that statehood would be restored after the completion of delimitation and Assembly elections. “The Prime Minister made a commitment. We urge him to fulfill his promise and reinstate J&K’s statehood,” Mir demanded.

The Congress leader also questioned the procedural integrity of the abrogation of Article 370, calling it unconstitutional. “While Parliament has the authority to bring amendments, the way the reorganization of J&K was carried out on August 5, 2019, was not in accordance with due parliamentary procedures,” he alleged. He also called for a caste census in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure proper representation and policy formulation.

NC MLA Sajad Ahmad Shaheen also weighed in, calling for a united effort to restore statehood. “Downgrading J&K from a state to a Union Territory was a grave injustice. We must work collectively to correct this wrong,” he urged, while also highlighting the need for improved healthcare and educational infrastructure in remote areas. He sought compensation for people displaced by railway and national highway projects in Banihal.

NC’s Farooq Ahmad Shah added that the House must maintain its dignity and work towards the welfare of the people. He called for a concrete policy to promote sustainable tourism in Gulmarg, foster industrial growth, and create employment avenues for the youth. “The Lieutenant Governor should use his good office to expedite the restoration of statehood. The delay is unjustifiable,” he asserted.

Meanwhile, Bani MLA Dr. Rameshwar Singh criticized the administration’s failure to deliver on key development promises. “For ten years, there has been no development in our region. Even the promises made by Prime Minister Modi and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha remain unfulfilled,” he alleged. Citing an instance from the Prime Minister’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program, where a minor girl had raised concerns about the lack of a school building in her area, Singh lamented that even after two years, no action had been taken.

“The PM personally acknowledged this issue and promised a school, yet it remains a distant dream. If a promise made by the PM himself is ignored, what hope does the common man have?” he asked. Singh also accused the administration of failing to act on the lieutenant governor’s announcement to construct a bridge in Bani after several people drowned in a river two years ago.

Calling for job creation and action against illegal mining, Singh urged the government to frame a policy for the regularization of NRHM employees.

As the heated debate continued, the BJP remained firm in its stance on Article 370, while the opposition vowed to persist in its demand for statehood. With political fault lines deepening, the Assembly session reflected the growing tensions between the ruling and opposition parties over the future of Jammu and Kashmir.