The ‘special status’ debate creates chaos in the IIOJK assembly

• IIOJK ruling party National Conference sponsors resolution.
• BJP legislators are opposing and protesting the resolution seeking the rights of IIOJK.
• Modi says “no power” in the world can restore IIOJK’s partial autonomy.

The assembly of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) saw another day of turmoil on Thursday as members of the legislature passed a new resolution demanding the restoration of the region’s special status as originally enshrined in the Indian Constitution.

The second resolution moved by the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (JKPDP) met with strong opposition from Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (PJV) MPs, who continued to protest a similar resolution passed by the legislature a day earlier.

The newly elected assembly of occupied Kashmir passed the resolution seeking to restore the region’s partial autonomy with a majority.

“This assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate a dialogue with elected representatives of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of special status,” the resolution said.

The National Conference party, which swept to power last month in the region’s first by-poll in a decade and the first since Modi’s Hindu nationalist government abolished it in August 2019, backed the resolution.

In a unilateral move by the Indian Parliament, the BJP-led government at the Center had also downgraded and divided the former state into two centrally administered union territories, Ladakh and IIOJK.

Thursday’s strongly worded second resolution seeking the restoration of Articles 370 and 35 (A) of the Constitution in their original form and repeal of the Re-org Act 2019, caused an uproar in the House as BJP legislators clashed with other MLAs in a attempt to grab copies of the resolution.

The opposition rejected the resolution, saying it was “illegal” and called for its withdrawal. In response, the speaker said that he has no such powers as anything passed by the House can only be revoked by the House itself, Kashmir Observer was mentioned.

The rioters were later chased away by the Sargent at the Arms and proceedings were adjourned until today (Friday).

According to his report Daily Sabahthe resolution requires the approval of Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, New Delhi’s top administrator at the IIOJK.

In response to the resolution, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi boasted that “no power” in the world can restore the partial autonomy of the IIOJK as it “had buried the wall of Article 370 in the graveyard”.

Addressing a public meeting on Thursday, Modi said those who dream of restoring Article 370 status should keep in mind that the decision to revoke the special status of the region was not an ordinary decision and no power in the world can undo it.

The disputed region was ruled by a governor appointed by New Delhi until last month, when an alliance of anti-Modi parties was elected to the local legislative assembly.