J&K assembly passes statehood resolution, BJP Walks out

SRINAGAR, Sept 28:The Jammu and Kashmir assembly today passed a resolution for the restoration of statehood amid pandemonium and a walkout by BJP MLAs. The resolution was moved by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He termed restoration of statehood as a matter of right  and not any charity of the BJP government, and asked the Centre what's the "appropriate time" to restore statehood.

He questioned whether the delay in restoration of statehood is happening because of terrorism and took a swipe that if that was so, then "the decision to restore statehood rests with Pakistan, not India."

"If Delhi feels statehood should be restored only after militancy is over then the decision of granting statehood is not with Delhi. It is with Islamabad," Abdullah said. He said they have been "humiliated" by the central government and he is not begging for the restoration of statehood. "It's a matter of right, not a charity from the centre."

The assembly saw commotion earlier today amid debate over the resolution for restoration of statehood. As the house was convened, all BJP MLAs stormed into the well of the house shouting slogans for sacking the government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and removing assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.

There were unruly scenes of attempts to throw microphones on Congress MLAs by a BJP MLA. Two BJP leaders were marshalled out. Subsequently, two Congress members also tried to enter the well of the house.

Multiple amendment motions had been moved by members including MLAs from the ruling National Conference calling for the inclusion of the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A in the statehood resolution moved by Omar Abdullah on Friday. The major contentious point in the resolution is a reference to the autonomy resolution of 2000. The BJP is terming it as "anti-national and Pakistani agenda."

The BJP strongly opposed it and tore up the copies of the resolution. Sunil Sharma, Leader of the Opposition in the assembly, has also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and discussed the ongoing session of the assembly. �" NDTV