Mudassir Ahmad
Srinagar, October 18 (KINS): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government has faced sharp criticism from opposition leaders for passing a resolution seeking the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir while making no mention of Article 370 and 35A.
The resolution, passed by the Cabinet, has sparked controversy as political leaders point out that Abdullah campaigned on the promise of restoring both Article 370 and statehood. Opposition figures are calling it a betrayal, accusing Abdullah of abandoning his key election pledge.
“It is deeply disappointing that the resolution focuses only on statehood, neglecting Article 370, which was a core promise of the National Conference. Omar Abdullah seems to be playing into the hands of the BJP. If the Home Minister and Prime Minister have already promised statehood, why ignore the bigger issue of Article 370?” said Er Rashid, Member Parliament for Baramulla, as quoted by news agency KINS.
Sajad Gani Lone, leader of the People’s Conference and Handwara MLA, also criticized the move, arguing that such a resolution should have been presented in the Assembly, not in the Cabinet. “The Assembly is the rightful place to debate issues like statehood and Article 370. By passing this resolution through the Cabinet, the matter is being trivialized. In 2000, the NC passed a resolution on autonomy in the Assembly, not the Cabinet. What has changed now?” Lone questioned in a social media post.
Citing the NC’s 2024 election manifesto, Lone pointed out that the party had pledged to restore Article 370 and 35A, along with statehood. “We are only asking for the NC to fulfill its promises,” he added.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has also slammed Abdullah’s government for taking a U-turn. PDP MLA Waheed Parra said that statehood has already been promised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning why the government is ignoring the more pressing issue of Article 370. “The revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019, was against the will of the people. Omar Abdullah had promised to prioritize the restoration of Article 370, but now he seems to be normalizing the post-2019 situation,” Parra said. (KINS)
Er Rashid, PDP, Sajad Lone slam CM Omar Abdullah for excluding Article 370 from Statehood Resolution
