Ruckus erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday as Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdry tabled a resolution urging the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status. The move reignited tensions surrounding Article 370, which had been scrapped in August 2019 and previously granted J&K special constitutional autonomy.The first assembly session in six years saw an immediate uproar when Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdary began reading the resolution. The resolution opposes the 2019 J&K Reorganisation Act, which redefined J&K’s status and seeks a full reversal of the changes. BJP lawmakers launched a fierce protest, with objections filling the assembly floor.“This house opposes the revocation of J&K’s special status and calls for the complete rescinding of the J&K Reorganisation Act,” the resolution reads, adding that it “resolves to strive for the restoration of all constitutional guarantees granted to Jammu and Kashmir in their original form.”The BJP’s strong reaction reflects the party’s firm stance on Article 370. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked J&K’s special status in August 2019, citing national integration and uniformity as reasons for the reorganization.Amid the chaotic scenes, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the session, planning to reconvene for Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address.“That this legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal,” the resolution moved by Choudhary reads.
