Change of expression not to alter our UT status: CM Omar

Jammu, Mar 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Tuesday said that no change of expression or removal of word “UT” would alter the Union Territory status of J&K, which was the reality in the present milieu, irrespective of one’s liking.

He said that the change would occur only when J&K would be able to get back its statehood from New Delhi.

In the same breath, he, however, reaffirmed that he was making unrelenting efforts for restoration of statehood to J&K and he would be successful in getting it back, for sure.

His affirmation came as an intervention when the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para objected to the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act, 2017 (L A Bill No 1 of 2025) replacing “Government of Jammu and Kashmir” with “UT of J&K.”

Objection in particular was to amendment of Section 2 (in clause 53) of the Act.

The Bill was moved by the CM in the House for consideration and passage.

Prior to Para, People’s Conference MLA Sajad Lone had walked out of the House to register his protest on the same ground, alleging that it (amendment) was “ratification of UT status.”

Though the Speaker Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather had tried to explain that it was not ratification and the Bill only aimed at amending J&K Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017, to align it with the Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) Act, 2017.

However, Lone remained unrelenting and kept on shouting, “Article 370, Article 35-A were abrogated; none asked us. Statehood was snatched, none asked us.”

“Why are you asking us (assembly) on this account? Hum Iss Gunah Mein Shamil Nahin Hai (We are not party to this sin),” uttering these words, he walked out of the House.

Rather reiterated, “There is neither question of ratification nor that of UT. Here in the House, GST was passed in 2017. Two acts were passed simultaneously – One CGST and the other SGST. Now this (amendment bill) only aimed at aligning it with the CGST. This is not only for J&K. This is being done in other states and UTs as well.”

Meanwhile, Para rose objecting to the amendment on the same pretext as he said, “We had brought resolution on Article 370. Here you are normalising August 5 development with the amendment… undermining the call for restoring special status and statehood.”

The Speaker said, “There is no question of Article 370. At present, J&K is a UT, how can you deny it?”

As Para continued to argue, the CM, who was till then watching quietly, stood up to counter.

“This is our misfortune that our majority of actions are dictated by the “University of WhatsApp.” We act solely on that basis. This “Whatsapp forward (message)”, which our colleague (Para) has received and on the basis of which even Sajad Lone Sahib also resorted to ‘walk out’ a short while ago, has been received by all of us. Through this WhatsApp message, an attempt has been made to create the impression that if this Bill gets passed then Jammu and Kashmir will become a UT,” he said.

“J&K is a UT at present. This is the status whether one likes it or not. This is the government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Just moments ago, when we passed the Finance Bill, what I reiterated when I mentioned the consolidated funds – I said… the consolidated funds of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Even then I had referred to the Union Territory but that time Sajad Lone Sahib did not resort to ‘walkout’,” CM Omar said.

Para sought to reiterate his point that the amendment (of Section 2) was ratifying UT status.

Amendment of Section 2, Act No V of 2017, provides for substitution of “Government of Jammu and Kashmir” with the words “Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir”.

However, the CM shot back saying, “Recently we took oath (as MLAs) under UT (dispensation). We contested the UT assembly election. Here we are passing the UT’s budget. Let’s presume if we remove this (word UT) while amending and say – the Government of Jammu and Kashmir – what will it change? Just moments ago, we passed the Appropriation Bill for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and you (Para) too approved it. It was passed for UT.”

He threw another prickly poser to Para saying, “If I had removed the expression (UT), would it have changed our position? Does it change our status? Jenab, this pretentious act for cameras does not change anything. Change will occur only when we will be able to get back our statehood from New Delhi.”

Referring to his relentless efforts for the restoration of statehood, the CM said, “Hardly we have discussed here (in the House) the unrelenting efforts we have made in this direction. In the very first cabinet meeting, we passed a resolution on statehood and I personally handed it over to the Prime Minister. Recently when the PM came to Sonamarg, in my speech delivered in front of him, I emphasised the urgency to restore statehood to J&K.”

He said that he frequently visited New Delhi to plead this cause.

“During every meeting (with the PM and HM), I convey that the UT (status) is not acceptable to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. But it is a fact – we are a UT. Had it not been so, the matter would have been different. Had we not been a UT, the grants No 2 - we just passed, there would have been discussion; cut motions would have been there. These were Home Department grants and these were passed without discussion and cut motion because we are a UT,” the CM said.

After countering Para, he turned to take on Lone though he (Lone) had already walked out of the House against the amendment.

Taking a dig at Lone, the CM accused him of playing to the gallery saying, “Jenab, resorting to walkout saying – I cannot be a party to this sin – is for cameras only.”

He said, “Yes, sin has been committed against us. But now we will have to rectify it. Therefore, I request not to resort to politics on the basis of these ‘WhatsApp forwards (messages).’ We have to get statehood restored to J&K and rest assured, we will accomplish this task. But just by removing one word from here, our reality will not change.”

“Just because we have mentioned ‘Union Territory’ here or not mentioned it - changes nothing. We are unfortunately a Union Territory. Until such time as the Parliament of India gives us back our statehood, we will remain a Union Territory. And therefore, let’s not do politics over something like this,” CM Omar said.

Following it, the House passed the Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 (L A Bill No 1 of 2025) through a voice vote.

This bill was the maiden bill of the Legislative Assembly of J&K Union Territory.

On March 22, it was tabled by Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Choudhary on behalf of the Chief Minister.

The Lieutenant Governor, has in pursuance of sub-sections (1) and (3) of Section 36 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, recommended to the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly the introduction and consideration of the bill.

The object of the bill is to give effect to carry out the amendments in the J&K Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017 to align it with the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017.

Later, Para shared his objection on ‘X’, with a screen shot of the bill, saying, “On March 25, J&K tabled GST Amendment Bill 2025, replacing ‘Government of Jammu and Kashmir’ with ‘UT of J&K.’ We object. This first bill normalises the August 5th changes, putting a stamp on changes. Not a legal expert, but this is undermining the call for restoring special status and statehood.”

Sajad Lone too explained his ‘walkout stance’ through a post on ‘X.’

“I walked out of the Assembly today when the government introduced a bill to amend Section 2 of the “Goods and Services Act”. The purpose of the bill was to insert the word J&K UT instead of J&K state,” he posted.

He said, “I want to make it clear that the passage of the bill is tantamount to endorsement of the UT status of J&K. I tried to protest but given the massive mandate that the people of J&K have given to NC, my voice was drowned out. And I walked out.”

“Did they ask the assembly when Article 370 was abrogated, when Article 35-A was abrogated and when the state of J&K was relegated to a UT.  Why are they asking the assembly now to passively endorse what will eventually be interpreted by history as an active endorsement of the act of relegating J&K to a UT,” Lone said.

He said that the entire “pre-election narrative was around, undoing the catastrophic events of August 5, 2019. The idea was that the assembly will unambiguously pass resolutions rejecting all the actions of August 5.”

“The reality as it stares in our faces is that till date we have not passed anything which is clear, concise and unambiguous. The power of the assembly to make laws or undo events of August 5, 2019, is not what matters. What is far more important is what is the voice of the people that emanates from the Assembly. We have not been barred from voicing our opinion. And the voices that are emanating do not do justice with the sentiments of the people of J&K,” Lone posted.