Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Calls for Restoration of Special Status

On Wednesday, the newly elected Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution urging the Indian government to initiate talks for the restoration of the region’s special status.

Kashmir’s semi-autonomy was revoked in August 2019 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government repealed Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, downgrading the state to a union territory. Article 370 had granted the region autonomy, allowing it to make laws for its permanent residents.

Since the revocation, the region has been directly governed by New Delhi, with Parliament taking over as its primary legislator. However, last month, Jammu and Kashmir held its first local election in 10 years, with local parties, including the National Conference (NC), winning. The NC, led by former chief minister Omar Abdullah, formed the new government.

The resolution, introduced by Abdullah’s deputy Surinder Kumar Choudhary, calls on the Indian government to open dialogue with Jammu and Kashmir’s elected representatives to restore its special status, constitutional protections, and safeguards for the region’s culture and identity.

The resolution was backed by all parties in the 90-member assembly except for the 29 members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The NC, in its election manifesto, had promised to fight for the restoration of statehood and special status for the region.

Since the revocation of Article 370, the Indian government has made several administrative changes, including removing local protections on land and jobs, which some see as efforts to alter the region’s demographic makeup.

While the resolution didn’t explicitly demand the restoration of Article 370, it emphasized the need to protect Kashmir’s identity and rights, leaving room for negotiations. Some experts believe this could lead to a new arrangement, possibly easing tensions with Pakistan, as Kashmir remains a disputed territory between India and Pakistan.