OMAR REVIVES NC’S “GREATER AUTONOMY” DEMAND AFTER 26 YEARS

GNS ONLINE NEWS PORTAL

BY AHMED ALI FAYYAZ

SRINAGAR SEPT, 25:-For the first time in the last 26 years, the National Conference party/Government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today formally demanded “Restoration of Greater Autonomy” to Jammu and Kashmir. It’s one step up the semiautonomous “Special Status as per Article 370 and 35-A”, two steps up the demand of “Statehood” and three steps up the “Union Territory status”.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, rather than demanding the “Greater Autonomy” directly, clubbed the resolution of the demand of “Greater Autonomy”, as passed unanimously with two-third majority by both Houses of the J&K Legislature in June 2000, with the two resolutions of the demand of “full Statehood” as passed by the UT Assembly in 2024 and 2026.

Omar moved the unscheduled resolution in the Assembly seeking the House submit it to the Government of India. Greater Autonomy means the pre-1953 Status in which Jammu and Kashmir had a special status, its head of State was titled as Sadr-e-Riyasat” to be elected by MLAs, head of the government was titled as “Prime Minister”, J&K had its own Constitution and flag. Besides, the Government of India had control of only the portfolios of Defence, External Affairs and Communication. Initially even the Supreme Court of India and Election Commission of India had also no jurisdiction on J&K but their jurisdiction was later extended.

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly passed the Greater Autonomy resolution unanimously on 26 June 2000. Even the 8 MLAs of BJP voted for it. It was also passed by the Legislative Council. However, it was rejected as “unacceptable” by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Cabinet in July 2000.

Copy from the X wall wall of Ahmed Ali Fayyaz