Srinagar, Feb 4 (PTI) – Peoples Conference president Sajad Lone has strongly criticized the draft proposal for the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, calling it an overt validation of the Centre’s decision to abrogate the region’s special status in 2019.
In a post on X, Lone accused the National Conference (NC) of deliberately forming an assembly committee composed of seven ruling party MLAs and two from the opposition BJP while excluding any representation from Kashmir-based opposition parties.
"The ruling NC-led government purposely constituted a committee with seven ruling alliance members and two BJP members. There was no one from Kashmir-based opposition parties or MLAs," Lone said.
According to Lone, the draft proposal endorses the changes made on August 5, 2019, by removing references to the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and laws governing permanent residency from assembly rules. He termed this move "the most explicit and unforgivable ratification" of the revocation of Article 370.
Lone expressed concern that adopting the draft would eliminate any future legal challenges to the Centre’s 2019 decision. "We dreamt of an unambiguous resolution by the new assembly rejecting August 5, 2019... now we have a shocker," he remarked, alleging that the assembly was being used to permanently shut down any scope for opposition to the constitutional changes.
He further accused the NC and BJP of working together behind the scenes to normalize the abrogation. "This draft is a cruel joke at the expense of the people of Kashmir," Lone said, claiming that a retired "old war horse" had been actively engaged with the NC over the past three years to ensure compliance with Delhi’s decisions.
Drawing historical parallels, he pointed to past political events in Kashmir, citing the 1975 accord, the 1996 elections, and now the 2024 assembly draft as moments where major changes were legitimized by regional political actors.
"It is a curse to be an MLA of an assembly that will be remembered for endorsing August 5," he concluded.
In a post on X, Lone accused the National Conference (NC) of deliberately forming an assembly committee composed of seven ruling party MLAs and two from the opposition BJP while excluding any representation from Kashmir-based opposition parties.
"The ruling NC-led government purposely constituted a committee with seven ruling alliance members and two BJP members. There was no one from Kashmir-based opposition parties or MLAs," Lone said.
According to Lone, the draft proposal endorses the changes made on August 5, 2019, by removing references to the Jammu and Kashmir Constitution and laws governing permanent residency from assembly rules. He termed this move "the most explicit and unforgivable ratification" of the revocation of Article 370.
Lone expressed concern that adopting the draft would eliminate any future legal challenges to the Centre’s 2019 decision. "We dreamt of an unambiguous resolution by the new assembly rejecting August 5, 2019... now we have a shocker," he remarked, alleging that the assembly was being used to permanently shut down any scope for opposition to the constitutional changes.
He further accused the NC and BJP of working together behind the scenes to normalize the abrogation. "This draft is a cruel joke at the expense of the people of Kashmir," Lone said, claiming that a retired "old war horse" had been actively engaged with the NC over the past three years to ensure compliance with Delhi’s decisions.
Drawing historical parallels, he pointed to past political events in Kashmir, citing the 1975 accord, the 1996 elections, and now the 2024 assembly draft as moments where major changes were legitimized by regional political actors.
"It is a curse to be an MLA of an assembly that will be remembered for endorsing August 5," he concluded.