Ahead of the resumption of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday, two resolutions submitted by Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone, one seeking the restoration of J&K’s pre-August 2019 status and the other calling for the return of prisoners booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA), have not been admitted for debate.
While no specific reason was given for the Speaker’s decision, sources said the resolution on the restoration of Article 370, which had given special status to J&K before it was abrogated, was disallowed because the National Conference government had brought a “similar resolution” in the last Assembly session. “The rule is that a similar Bill can’t be moved in a year’s time,” a source said.
After J&K was downgraded to a Union Territory, the Reorganisation Act gave powers to the Speaker to frame the rules that govern the proceedings of the House.
Lone’s resolution could have put the ruling National Conference in a spot because, while the party wants to avoid a confrontation with the Centre, it also cannot be seen opposing the resolution.
In the first session of the current Assembly, the National Conference had thwarted an attempt by the Opposition to bring a resolution on the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. The ruling party then brought its own resolution, seeking dialogue on the restoration of constitutional guarantees and to “work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions”.
The non-BJP Opposition, however, criticised the NC government’s resolution as weak and watered down, and a “humiliation and betrayal with the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
Lone said the resolution he sought to bring was unambiguous and different from the one brought by the NC.
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“They talk about it (the resolution on Article 370) being repeated. Today, we have software where they can put in the one that was brought by the National Conference and the one that we have brought. And if it says it is the same, I will apologise,” Lone told The Indian Express.
“Our resolution is clear and expressive. It uses the words ‘Article 370’, it uses the word ‘35A’, it uses the words ‘Reorganisation Bill’, it uses the words ‘August 2019’ and it unambiguously states that we need our Article 370 back, we need 35A back,” he said.
Lone’s other resolution, which sought the return to J&K of prisoners booked under PSA, was also disallowed as “the matter is deemed to fall under the purview of the central government, not the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government”, according to sources.
Lone said, “I believe they are mistaking things. There is a difference between a state Assembly having powers to make laws to administer some departments and voicing our opinion.”
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“There is a strong need to understand that this institution (the Assembly) reflects the will of the people of J&K and nothing bars them from expressing their views. Whether Delhi agrees with it or not is a different thing altogether,” he said.
Another Bill that will not be tabled in the House is the one submitted by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para, seeking the restoration of holiday on “Martyrs’ Day”. Though the Bill was initially admitted, it was left out during the balloting. The restoration of the holiday on July 13 is an emotional issue in the Valley and is supported by all the political parties except the BJP.
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