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| Restoration of J&K’s special status top priority: CM | | Budget Session-2026 | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 5: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said that the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir remains the top priority of the National Conference and his government.
Winding up the discussion on the Vote of Thanks to the Lieutenant Governor’s address in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister asserted that the National Conference is fully committed to fulfilling all promises made to the people, with the restoration of special status firmly at the top of its agenda.
In an obvious reference towards criticism from opposition members over the absence of an explicit reference to Article 370 in the address, Abdullah said there was no need to specifically mention the provision as it continues to exist in the Constitution of India, albeit in a “hollowed-out” form.
“Article 370 has not been removed from the Constitution. Had it been removed, I would have said it must be reinserted. It still exists. What has been done is that its substance has been taken away and our constitutional status has been snatched,” the Chief Minister said.
He reiterated that both the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and the government remain steadfast in their commitment to restore the region’s special status, as promised during the elections.
Abdullah also referred to the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in November 2024, stating that the House had already clearly articulated its position on the restoration of special status. “There is nothing more that needs to be said. Most of its substance was removed, but the part embedded in law still remains,” he added.
It is pertinent to mention that on November 4, 2024, during its first Assembly session, the Omar Abdullah-led government passed a resolution demanding the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution also sought the restoration of constitutional guarantees and called for working out a constitutional mechanism to bring back these provisions.
The resolution reaffirmed the importance of special status and constitutional safeguards, stating that these provisions had protected the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It also expressed concern over their unilateral removal.
Further, the Assembly urged the Government of India to initiate dialogue with the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir for the restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees, while emphasising that any such process must safeguard national unity alongside the legitimate aspirations of the people of the region.
The resolution was put to a voice vote by the Speaker on November 4, 2024 and was passed amid uproar and ruckus created by BJP legislators. |
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