
Title: Irrelevant to discuss Article 370 in J&K Assembly session: BJP
The recent Assembly session in Jammu and Kashmir has been marred by controversy, with the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly, Sunil Sharma, stating that it is “irrelevant” to discuss Article 370, a contentious provision that granted special status to the state. Sharma, a BJP MLA, made the remark while addressing the media, saying that any discussion on the article would be a “waste of time” for the Assembly.
Article 370 has been a subject of intense debate and political maneuvering in the past, with many parties advocating for its abrogation. The provision was scrapped by the Centre in 2019, following which Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
However, Sharma’s statement has sparked a fresh controversy, with many questioning the relevance of the discussion in the current political scenario. The LoP’s remarks come in the wake of the recent address by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, in which he did not touch upon the issue of Article 370. Sinha’s address focused on the government’s achievements and initiatives, rather than the contentious provision.
Sharma’s statement has been seen as a reflection of the BJP’s stance on the issue. The party has long maintained that Article 370 is no longer relevant in the current political scenario, and that its abrogation was necessary to ensure the development and integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.
The LoP’s remarks have been met with criticism from opposition parties, which have accused the BJP of trying to divert attention from the real issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) has termed Sharma’s statement as “unfortunate and irrelevant”, saying that it reflects the BJP’s “lack of understanding” of the issues faced by the people of the state.
The JKPCC has also accused the BJP of trying to suppress the voices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who are demanding a rollback of the Centre’s decisions and a return to the pre-2019 status quo. The party has called for a united opposition to resist the BJP’s “anti-people” policies and to fight for the rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The controversy surrounding Article 370 has also sparked a debate on the role of the Assembly in the political process. Many have questioned the relevance of the Assembly in the current political scenario, citing its limited powers and the Centre’s dominance over the state’s administration.
The BJP has long maintained that the Assembly has become redundant in the current political scenario, and that the Centre’s decisions are the only relevant ones. The party has argued that the Assembly’s powers are limited, and that it is unable to take decisions that can impact the state’s development and progress.
However, opposition parties have countered this argument, saying that the Assembly is the only democratic institution in the state, and that it is the only body that can represent the people’s voices. The JKPCC has called for the restoration of the Assembly’s powers, saying that it is the only way to ensure the participation of the people in the political process.
In conclusion, Sunil Sharma’s statement has sparked a fresh controversy in Jammu and Kashmir, with many questioning the relevance of discussing Article 370 in the Assembly. While the BJP has long maintained that the provision is no longer relevant, opposition parties have accused the party of trying to suppress the voices of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The controversy has also sparked a debate on the role of the Assembly in the political process, with many questioning its relevance in the current political scenario. The BJP’s stance on the issue has been seen as a reflection of its desire to dominate the state’s administration, while opposition parties have called for the restoration of the Assembly’s powers and the participation of the people in the political process.
News Source: https://x.com/PTI_News/status/1896770915859624200