J&K Cabinet resolution presses for Statehood

Opposition parties criticise the move, as the resolution had veered away from the “goalpost of Article 370”

The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, passed a resolution calling for the restoration of Statehood to the Union Territory, sources said. However, the Opposition parties criticised the move, as the resolution had veered away from the “goalpost of Article 370”.

The draft resolution was discussed during the first Cabinet meeting chaired by the newly elected Chief Minister on Thursday (October 17, 2024). Mr. Abdullah and his five Ministers attended the Cabinet meeting at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.

Official sources said a Cabinet note made a unanimous appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “restore Statehood to the U.T. of J&K”. J&K was split into two U.T.s in August 2019 and its special constitutional status under provisions of Article 370 abrogated.

Official sources said Mr. Abdullah is likely to hand over the resolution to the PM as “collective demand of the people of J&K”. However, the contents of the Cabinet note were not made public. Officials close to the CM refused to comment on why the resolution remains under the wraps.

The J&K Cabinet note also assumes significance as the Supreme Court on October 17, 2024 said it will consider listing a plea seeking a time-bound restoration of Statehood to J&K. A fresh application has been filed by Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, an academician, and Khurshid Ahmad Malik, an activist.

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Despite the details of the resolution being widely reported in the media in J&K, the NC and government officials are tight-lipped about the resolution or its content. When contacted, NC leaders did not categorically deny the development.

The reported move, however, evoked sharp criticism from the Opposition parties. Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) president and MP Engineer Abdul Rashid Sheikh said, “The NC and BJP are playing games behind the curtain. It has come to the fore that Omar Abdullah, while chairing the first Cabinet meet, passed a resolution seeking restoration of Statehood. It’s contrary to what the NC had claimed. The party promised Article 370 but Mr. Abdullah wanted to shift focus to Statehood.”

Mr. Rashid said Mr. Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have already promised Statehood. “Therefore stressing on this issue while ignoring the other grave issues is tantamount to a betrayal,” he added.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra said Mr. Abdullah’s first resolution on Statehood “is nothing less than ratification of the August 5th, 2019 decision”.

“Passing no resolution on Article 370 and scaling down the demand to mere Statehood is a huge setback, especially after seeking votes on the promise of restoring Article 370,” Mr. Parra said.

J&K Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Lone questioned the “mystery and secrecy” of the development. “I hope the Chief Secretary of J&K has notified it as is the protocol. And I very humbly state that the will of the people of J&K is reflected in the Assembly and not in the Cabinet. The Cabinet is a majoritarian institution of governance. It does not reflect all shades and opinions as per the will of the people of J&K,” Mr. Lone said.

He said the Assembly was the proper institution for addressing major issues like that of Statehood or Article 370. “When the NC government passed a resolution on autonomy, they passed it in the Assembly not through a Cabinet resolution. What has changed now?” he asked.

Meanwhile, Mr. Abdullah’s government has distributed portfolios among the five Ministers, two from the Kashmir valley and three from the Jammu region. No elected Congress leader has joined Mr. Abdullah’s Cabinet so far, in spite of being an alliance partner.

Surinder Kumar Choudhary, who is the Deputy Chief Minister, has been given the portfolios of Public Works (Roads and Buildings), Industries and Commerce, Mining, Labour and Employment, and Skill Development. NC legislator Sakeena Masood Itoo got the portfolios of Health and Medical Education, and School Education, Higher Education and Social Welfare. Javed Ahmed Rana has been given Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology and Environment and Tribal Affairs, while Javid Ahmad Dar got charge of Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative, and Election.

Satish Sharma, who won as an Independent candidate from Jammu’s Chhamb constituency, was given the portfolios of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Transport, Science and Technology, Information Technology, Youth Services and Sports and ARI and Trainings.

Published - October 18, 2024 01:49 pm IST