Article 370 resolution: Will Jammu Kashmir assembly session turn into battleground?

February 28, 2025 by News Desk

As the Jammu Kashmir Assembly convenes for its first budget session since 2018, tensions are already brewing, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cautioning against what it calls “anti-national” resolutions.

The warning comes amid reports that Sajad Lone’s Peoples Conference has proposed a resolution against the abrogation of Article 370, an issue that remains central to political discourse in the region.

The Assembly, which reconvened last year after a decade-long hiatus, had already witnessed chaos, with MLAs physically clashing during the inaugural session. With political divisions deepening, the upcoming budget session is expected to be just as turbulent.

During an all-party meeting chaired by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, BJP leader Sunil Kumar Sharma insisted that no “unconstitutional, undemocratic, or anti-national” resolutions, questions, or bills should be allowed. He urged the Speaker to maintain neutrality, setting the stage for a possible confrontation with opposition parties.

While NC, Congress, and other parties agreed on ensuring legislative accountability, sources indicate that contentious resolutiong, particularly the one opposing Article 370’s abrogation, could lead to major disruptions.

Beyond political resolutions, the JKNC-led government is expected to introduce populist measures, including free 200 units of electricity and an increased rice allotment.

These welfare measures come in response to public discontent over reduced subsidized rice allocations, a crucial issue in a region where rice is the staple food.

Under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), the quantity of subsidized rice available to J-K residents was significantly reduced, leading to protests. Since Kashmir’s diet relies on rice rather than wheat unlike much of North India the cuts have had serious economic and food security implications.

Experts suggest that the BJP, now in opposition, may attempt to stall these measures, using procedural tactics to block key government decisions. The party’s resistance could further deepen political tensions within the Assembly.

When the assembly session was convened last year following a hiatus of six years, the National Conference proposed a bill seeking the restoration of constitutional guarantees in Jammu Kashmir. The BJP legislators, however, created a ruckus by exchanging blows and verbal abuses with those supporting it.

Last year’s session saw MLAs from different parties physically clashing on the Assembly floor, setting a precedent for high-voltage confrontations. With Sajad Lone’s proposed resolution and BJP’s aggressive stance, the upcoming session is likely to be even more volatile.

Notably, both Sajad Lone and NC’s Ali Muhammad Sagar were absent from the all-party meeting, hinting at potential behind-the-scenes political maneuvering. Their absence raises questions about whether opposition parties will coordinate efforts or approach the session independently.

As the session begins on March 3, all eyes will be on how the Speaker navigates the expected confrontations.