World · India Bureau
J&K Assembly erupts as NC tables statehood restoration resolution
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes on Wednesday as the National Conference tabled a resolution seeking restoration of the Union Territory's statehood, prompting fierce protests from BJP legislators who tore up the document and stormed the Well of the House.
LSN India ·
The resolution, backed by the National Conference, references a 2002 autonomy report and seeks to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, a status the region lost in August 2019 when Parliament revoked Article 370 and bifurcated the state into two Union Territories.
As the resolution was introduced, 29 BJP legislators mounted a vociferous protest against the measure. The opposition escalated quickly, with BJP members tearing up copies of the resolution, storming into the Well of the Assembly and climbing onto tables in a display of dissent. The tumultuous scenes forced the Speaker to call for a brief adjournment to restore order.
The statehood question remains contentious in Jammu and Kashmir politics. While the National Conference and other regional parties have consistently demanded restoration of statehood, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has defended the 2019 constitutional changes, arguing they were necessary for development and security.
The resolution reflects the ongoing political tensions in the Union Territory, where questions about governance structure and constitutional status continue to dominate legislative proceedings and public discourse.