Passing autonomy resolution in 2000 didn’t help NC, will Article 370 move prove fruitful?

Srinagar, Nov 6: Exactly 24 years after the National Conference-led government passed an autonomy resolution, the dispensation led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday moved and passed yet another resolution seeking restoration of J&K’s special status, which was abrogated by the Centre on August 5, 2019.

On June 26, 2000, the government led by Farooq Abdullah passed a resolution in the J&K Legislative Assembly to seek restoration of the pre-1953 position of the state that is autonomy for J&K. However, it was rejected by the then central government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The Centre had termed the autonomy resolution as “unacceptable.”

“In 2000 the J&K government passed the autonomy resolution with the hope that New Delhi would consider it. But the proposal was rejected outrightly,” a politician said. “Passing autonomy resolution didn’t help the NC’s cause as it faced a defeat in the polls that were held two years after it tried to revive its old election plank.”

In the 2002 assembly elections, NC couldn’t attain the majority which led to the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Congress forming a coalition government.

Reacting to today’s development, National Conference (NC) chief spokesman Tanvir Sadiq said, “Passing a resolution for the restoration of J&K’s special status was mentioned in our manifesto.”

On whether NC once again took a risk like it did in 2000, he said, “People have reposed their faith in us. We have never compromised on our stance. In 1996 we had a thumping majority and this time also we have a thumping majority. What we did today, people wanted it.”

Sadiq said: “Today was a big day. The people of J&K have won. I hope New Delhi understands that we have only called for giving us everything back constitutionally that has been taken away from us. What we did is within the constitution of the country. New Delhi should be very positive about it as this resolution has the stamp of the assembly.”

On being told that opposition parties in Kashmir are saying that it’s a “weak resolution” as there is no mention of Articles 370 and 35-A, Sadiq said, “We have clearly stated that restore

J&K’s special status with constitutional guarantees. It includes everything that was snatched from us.”

A senior BJP leader, who wished not to be named, said, “We want to remind NC that the assembly can’t get Article 370 back. It was abrogated by the Parliament and the Supreme Court has put its stamp on it. They should stop daydreaming.”

He said: “NC passed the special status resolution just to play to the galleries. The party’s autonomy resolution was trashed in 2000 as it was nothing more than a publicity stunt.”

Another senior leader said, “We all know that today’s resolution won’t get Article 370 back. It is very weak. The autonomy resolution passed by the J&K Assembly in 2000 was not as weak as the one passed today.”