Omar Abdullah Moves Resolution Seeking Full Statehood for IIOJK

SRINAGAR: Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has moved a resolution in the Legislative Assembly demanding the immediate restoration of full statehood to the occupied territory.

The resolution calls on the Indian government to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, with the National Conference maintaining that the territory should receive more than administrative status and that its historical constitutional rights should also be addressed.

Omar Abdullah said the Indian government should fulfil its commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.

He argued that the present system had left the locally elected administration with limited powers and called for the restoration of the territory’s full statehood.

The National Conference said the demand was not limited to provincial status, but also concerned what it describes as the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s historical constitutional rights.

The resolution triggered strong protests from BJP legislators in the assembly.

According to Indian media reports, BJP members raised slogans, protested inside the House and tore copies of the resolution.

Some BJP legislators also staged a protest in front of the Speaker’s chair, prompting the Speaker to direct marshals to remove them from the assembly.

The BJP has opposed references to earlier resolutions concerning autonomy and the constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir.

The ruling National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) supported the resolution, while Congress legislators also backed the demand for restoration of statehood.

The National Conference has indicated that it intends to pursue the resolution despite opposition from BJP members.

The debate once again highlighted divisions among political parties over the constitutional and political status of IIOJK.

The developments have renewed political debate over the status of Jammu and Kashmir and the powers available to its local administration.

Political commentators cited by KMS said that despite political differences, the demand for greater political rights remains an important issue among sections of the Kashmiri population.