Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday challenged BJP legislators to take part in a debate on the resolution seeking restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, asking them to make their position clear through a vote.
The issue came up during proceedings of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, where BJP members and ruling party legislators exchanged arguments over the statehood resolution. Abdullah accused BJP MLAs of disrupting the proceedings and questioned their position on the restoration of statehood.
Abdullah said the BJP members should participate in the discussion and vote on the resolution rather than preventing a debate. He framed the issue as a straightforward choice, asking legislators to say whether they supported or opposed the restoration of statehood.
The statehood resolution has become a major point of disagreement between the ruling National Conference-led government and the BJP in the Assembly. BJP leaders have opposed the resolution in its present form and have said they would not allow discussions on issues relating to autonomy or Article 370.
The exchange took place amid continuing political differences in the Assembly over Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional and political status. The restoration of statehood has remained a prominent demand of the elected government since the Union Territory was created in 2019.
The debate over the resolution is expected to continue as members from both sides put forward their positions on the restoration of statehood and the way the issue should be taken up in the Assembly.
