The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a heated exchange of words on Tuesday as the Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, opposed the discussion on Article 370, calling it “foolishness.”
He said that Article 370 is now history and everyone should acknowledge it.
“Discussing it is completely foolish and tantamount to misleading people”, he said.
His remarks came after J&K Peoples Conference Chief Sajad Gani Lone sought amendments to the Lieutenant Governor’s speech, addressing Article 370, the Public Safety Act (PSA), the 1987 elections, and police verification procedures.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather rejected Lone’s amendments, citing procedural rules. “As per Rule 187, a discussion on Article 370 cannot take place within a year of a resolution on the same issue”, Rather stated.
He further said that the 1987 elections were a past event and did not qualify for discussion. On PSA and police verification, he clarified that these matters fall under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and cannot be debated until statehood is restored.
Lone walked out of the session in protest and accused the National Conference (NC) of working with the BJP. The BJP reiterated its position, stating that Parliament had already abrogated Article 370 and that state assemblies cannot overturn parliamentary decisions. “Discussing Article 370 is unnecessary. It is a waste of time to discuss an issue that has been a history now. Those who don’t have knowledge about the constitution would try to discuss these issues”, Sharma said. “The Supreme Court has upheld its abrogation”, he added.
Criticizing Peoples Conference chairman and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone for staging walkout over the issue of Article 370, Sharma said, “His (Lone’s) love for Pakistan has resurfaced as his sasural (in laws) are there.
He (Lone) is frustrated after barely winning the election and is alone in the Assembly.”
Pertinently, during the inaugural session of the J&K Assembly in November last year, Lone, along with PDP’s Waheed Parra and Awami Ittehad Party’s (AIP) Sheikh Khursheed, had supported a resolution for restoring J&K’s special status.
