Till statehood restored, J&K a UT: CM slams Opposition walkout
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday criticised opposition members for walking out over the use of the term “Union Territory,” saying the region remains one until the Parliament restores its statehood.
Abdullah made the remarks in the legislative assembly after Valley-based opposition legislators pointed out mentioning of “UT” in a Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act-2017 was equal to endorsing the Union Territory status by the House.
As the Chief Minister moved the motion to pass the Bill in the house, People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone interrupted and said the Bill sought to replace “J&K State” with “J&K UT,” which amounts to endorsing Jammu and Kashmir’s Union Territory status. Lone, later, staged a walkout into the matter. Later, PDP MLA Waheed Para also raised the same issue.
Responding to it, Abdullah said “Just because we have mentioned ‘Union Territory’ here and not anything else, it does not change anything. Unfortunately, until the Parliament of India restores our statehood, we will remain a Union Territory. So let us not politicise this.”
He said walking out does not help the cause. “We should not engage in politics over WhatsApp university posts, which some among us have received.”
Abdullah added, “We have to get back statehood to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Inshallah, we will restore it. Removing the word ‘UT’ will not change our reality. We are a UT whether you like it or not. This government governs as a Union Territory.”
“All the business conducted by this house so far has been under the name of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. During the passing of the finance bill, I repeatedly mentioned ‘Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir’ regarding consolidated funds. Why didn’t Sajad stage a walkout then? During my grants, I mentioned ‘Union Territory’ as well,” he said. All members took oath under the Union Territory and contested elections under it, he added.
Abdullah stressed that his government has been vigorously fighting for the restoration of statehood. “We passed a resolution in the first cabinet meeting. We submitted it to the Prime Minister. Whenever I go to Delhi, I bring it up, that the people of J&K do not like the Union Territory status and want the restoration of statehood,” he said.
