J&K: Oppn angry as Omar cabinet ‘quietly’ passes resolution on statehood restoration

According to a report in Jammu-based newspaper Daily Excelsior, the draft resolution was discussed in the first Cabinet meeting of the newly-elected government on Thursday (October 17) at the Civil Secretarial in Srinagar.

The ruling National Conference (NC), however, has neither made the ‘decision’ of the six-member Cabinet official nor denied the reports on the development.

The Daily Excelsior report also said that the chief minister will travel to Delhi to handover the draft of the resolution to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Why no resolution on Article 370? asks Oppn

The reported passing of the resolution, however, has drawn flak from the Opposition in Jammu and Kashmir with parties including People’s Democratic Party (PDP) accusing the Abdullah government of ratifying the Centre’s 2019 decision by ignoring restoration of Article 370.

The People’s Conference questioned the allegedly secretive manner in which the resolution was passed.

Watch: CM Omar Abdullah: Challenges ahead in post-Art 370 Jammu & Kashmir | Capital Beat

Iltija Mufti, PDP leader and daughter of party president Mehbooba Mufti, asked whether it bodes well for JK when the first cabinet meet is shrouded in secrecy about a resolution on restoring statehood but there is not a squeak about restoring JK's special status.

"Isn't this fait accompli, whitewashing & legitimising Delhi's illegal brutal disempowerment & disrobing of India's only Muslim majority state? Not a scale back but utter surrender," she said in a post on X.

"Omar Abdullah's first resolution on statehood is nothing less than ratification of the August 5, 2019 decision. No resolution on Article 370 and scaling down the demand to mere statehood is a huge setback, especially after seeking votes on the promise of restoring Article 370," PDP youth president and MLA-elect Pulwama, Waheed Parra, said in a post on X.

People's Conference chief Sajad Lone wondered why the resolution on statehood passed by the cabinet was "shrouded in mystery and secrecy that only one newspaper publishes it".

"I hope the CS (chief secretary) of Jammu and Kashmir has notified as it is the protocol," Lone said on X.

Lone, who is an MLA-elect from Handwara, however, said the resolution should have been passed in the assembly rather than the cabinet.

Also read: Omar pulls off a tightrope walk on J-K cabinet as ally Congress decides to sit out
"I very humbly state that the will of the people of J&K is reflected in the Assembly and not in the cabinet. The cabinet is a majoritarian institution of governance. It does not reflect all shades and opinions as per the will of the people of J&K," he added.

"When the NC Government passed a resolution on autonomy, they passed it in the Assembly not through a cabinet resolution. What has changed now? Fail to understand why this resolution should not have been reserved for Assembly. Why are we so keen to trivialise everything," he questioned.

Clear that Omar a puppet in BJP hands: Baramulla MP

Baramulla MP Sheikh Abdul Rashid on Friday called the alleged passing of the resolution " painful" and a "departure" from the principle stand of the ruling NC.

"There are reports that a resolution has been passed to seek restoration of the statehood. It is his right to pass anything. But, we want to remind Abdullah that you contested the election on Articles 370 and 35A and statehood. So these reports that only a resolution on statehood has been passed is very painful. It means a departure from the principle stand of his party," Rashid said at a press conference.

He said the resolution on statehood only makes it clear that Abdullah, who is also the NC vice president, is "playing in the hands of the BJP".

"The prime minister and (Union) home minister have promised the restoration of statehood a number of times. So why is Omar seeking the same thing? Why is he seeking what the BJP is already ready to give? "It means he is not ready to talk about (Articles) 370 & 35A. It is just an eyewash and he is deviating from the agenda on which he contested the elections," Rashid said.