Resolution on Article 370 passed by House still stands: CM Omar

Jammu, Mar 3: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said that the resolution brought by his government on Article 370 and passed by the House, during the previous session of the J&K Legislature, was still alive hence there was no need to talk about it again.

He was responding to media queries after the J&K Budget session’s inaugural day proceedings.

About PDP’s criticism that LG’s Address did not mention Article 370, the Chief Minister said, “Whatever we had to do on that account, we already accomplished it during the first session. Our resolution still stands. It was passed by the House. PDP and other parties helped in its passage.”

“Contrary to speculations that any resolution related to the special status of J&K would be rejected. It was not rejected. To date it is alive. So where is the need to talk about it again? Had we not brought that resolution then, it would have been rational to talk about it now. We brought it into the House (during the last session in November) and it was passed by an overwhelming majority. Now what else do we have to talk about,” he threw a poser in reply.

In response to a query about hints dropped by a BJP MLA about his party’s possible alliance with NC, the Chief Minister, in unambiguous terms, stated that there was neither any scope nor any need for the alliance (with BJP).

“We are not talking about it. No talks have taken place on this account. Our ideologies and our thoughts don’t align. The same is true about J&K also,” he said.

The Chief Minister refused to comment on the opposition members’ criticism of the government vis-à-vis LG’s Address which mentioned statehood but did not touch upon other core issues of the National Conference.

“We will talk inside the House on all issues. This is not a right precedent. We don’t talk outside the House. Discussions (inside the House) will begin tomorrow. Today the List of Business only included LG Sahib’s Address and obituary references. Debate on LG’s Address will begin tomorrow. I’m sure all these issues you are referring to, will be raised by the honourable members in the House during debate,” he said.

“The government will respond to all issues raised by members inside the House,” CM Omar said.

Answering a query related to the LG’s Address, he said, “This is obvious that the LG’s Address reflects the government’s priorities as he represents the Government and speaks on its behalf only. Whatever he has spelt out, are our (government’s) priorities, which we have to accomplish while working in unison.”