Srinagar : Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone has filed a fresh resolution in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly secretariat, opposing the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A firmly. The resolution clearly denounces the constitutional amendments brought about on August 5, 2019, and calls for the restoration of the erstwhile constitutional status of Jammu & Kashmir.
The move comes in the aftermath of criticism against the previous resolution by the National Conference government, which was widely seen as being vague.The resolution is a strong departure from the earlier National Conference-led resolution, which had employed more cautious language in dealing with the issue of special status. The NC’s previous resolution had only “reaffirmed the significance of special status” and “expressed concern” regarding its revocation, while stressing that any process of restoration must weigh national unity against local aspirations.
This stance had been criticized by Kashmir-based opposition parties, such as the PDP and Peoples Conference, who had described it as a “watered-down” version. The Congress party had also highlighted that the NC’s resolution was more centered on statehood restoration than Article 370.
Sources suggest Lone’s new decision is more forceful in its approach, namely in calling for the condemnation of all measures taken on August 5, 2019, and demanding an unconditional return to the region’s pre-2019 constitutional status. The step is likely to further polarize political discussion during the next assembly session and underlines the ongoing row over the constitutional amendments in Jammu & Kashmir.
