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On Day 1 Of J&K Assembly, Waheed Parra's Article 370 Resolution Jolts NC, BJP

As the stormy session continued, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said that he had not received any resolution. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said a single member could not decide the debate on Article 370.

PDP Leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra
PDP Leader Waheed Ur Rehman Parra Photo: File Image
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As the proceedings of the historic Jammu and Kashmir Assembly began, it was expected that the first day of the session would end with the nomination of the speaker and the governor바카라™s address. However, the session started on a stormy note with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra stumping both the ruling National Conference (NC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by bringing a resolution calling for the restoration of Article 370. The Speaker of the House, Abdul Rahim Rather, now says neither he nor his secretary received any resolution. 

바카라œThere is no resolution,바카라 he told Outlook. He said the legislative practice is that a member sends notice to the secretary if he wants to table any resolution, the secretary of the Assembly after examining the notice puts it up with the Speaker and once the Speaker permits it, it is tabled in the House.

바카라œI didn바카라™t see any resolution and I didn바카라™t receive any resolution. I checked with the secretary and he didn't receive any,바카라 Rather said.

Parra had commenced his speech on a mild note, saying 바카라œI congratulate you for being elected as the Speaker of the House. We will learn a lot from your experience.바카라 Then, he asked if an envelope should be handed over to the Speaker. In the envelope, he said was a resolution and started reading it.

The resolution read: 바카라œThe House opposes the revocation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir through the J&K Reorganisation Act 2019 and calls for its complete rescinding. The House further strives for the restoration of special status and all constitutional guarantees granted to Jammu and Kashmir in their original and pristine form.바카라

It took time for the BJP members to react as they stood to oppose it while the National Conference members sat in their chairs not knowing what to do. The Chief Minister was also calmly sitting in his chair. Parra was supported by Peoples Conference MLA and leader Sajad Gani Lone, Awami Ittehad Party member Sheikh Khurshid and two members of the PDP.

Later, responding to Parra바카라™s move, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir reflects the sentiments of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. 바카라œThe fact is that the people of Jammu and Kashmir didn바카라™t approve the decision of August 5, 2019. If they would have approved it, the results would have been different. We would not have been on the treasury benches and we are those who raised their voice against decisions of August 5, 2019,바카라 Abdullah said.

바카라œHow the House will reflect it (sentiments of people) and how it will discuss it and how it will be debated, a single member cannot decide it,바카라 the chief minister said while alluding to Parra. 바카라œOnce the session for the private member bills will begin, any member of the House can bring any bill but in this session what kind of resolution will be brought, it will be decided by the government,바카라 he added.

Omar Abdullah also said the resolution brought today had no value and it has been only brought for the cameras. He said had the PDP been serious, they would have had negotiations with the ruling party before coming up with such a resolution.

Later, talking to the reporters, Parra said the resolution talks about what Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah envisaged and it was about his legacy and that of the last Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir Maharaja Hari Singh. 바카라œIt talks about the restoration of the state created by Dogra Maharajas and talks about the legacy of J&K state바카라™s first ruler Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. I don바카라™t think anyone in the House should oppose it,바카라 he said.

바카라œAll members should unanimously support the resolution. The resolution is about the dignity and identity of people and it should be the first business of the House. We have requested the Speaker to make it the first part of the business,바카라 Parra said.

He rejected the chief minister바카라™s 바카라œconsultative practice바카라 jibe saying the first resolution brought by the chief minister in the cabinet was about the restoration of the state. He said that when the chief minister, after taking oath, went to meet the Prime Minister, he didn바카라™t consult anyone. 바카라œOmar Abdullah is the leader of all as the Assembly represents the sentiment of the people. He should have consulted all,바카라 Parra said, adding that Article 370 was abrogated in full public view and it was all well recorded. 

바카라œWe should fight for the restoration of Article 370 in open view and before the cameras. It is PDP바카라™s resolution but what are we seeking? We are seeking restoration of the legacy of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and we are seeking a state created by the Maharaja. It is not an anti-India resolution,바카라 Parra insisted.

He said the ruling party was more concerned about the statehood which has been promised by the Prime Minister and the Lt Governor as well. 바카라œBut they (NC) had promised their first resolution would be the restoration of Article 370,바카라 he said, asking for the support of NC members.

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