Amid intense opposition from the BJP, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution asking the Center to hold a dialogue with elected representatives to restore special status under Article 370 to the erstwhile state.

After the assembly was adjourned following a scuffle inside the house, Deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party.

“We were only talking about the Special status that was taken away from us in 2019. If you do the ‘narcotic test’ of the BJP, you will find that they also want the same thing,” he told ANI.

He said that the people of the Union Territory have suffered because of the fact that people from outside are buying property Jammu and Kashmir.

“We brought the resolution only to secure the future of the people of J&K. Jammu people have suffered the most in this situation because outsiders are buying land and getting jobs there…BJP at the Center has promised special status to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh too…When they (BJP) take the name of Lord Ram (in the assembly), we want to tell them that everyone should have their rights and that J&K should get its special status… Ended militancy in Rajouri, Chenab Valley, Kathua and Samba during tenure them under LG?…,” he said.

The resolution was adopted without any debate and by voice vote.

What did the resolution say?

The resolution was moved in the house by Choudhary. He called the elimination Article 370 a unilateral move.

“That this legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which have protected the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses its concern over their unilateral removal,” read the resolution proposed by Choudhary.

BJP members, including the Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharmaopposed the resolution.

“We reject the resolution. The business that was given to us was that the discussion is for the lieutenant governor,” he added.

The National Conference and Congress supported the resolution.

As BJP MLAs raised slogans against the resolution, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ordered a voice vote.

“If the members of the opposition do not want to speak, I will put it to a vote,” he said.

In 2019, the Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370 and divided the erstwhile state into two union territories.

With inputs from PTI