Jammu & Kashmir assembly to raise State autonomy issue

SRINAGAR: The upcoming budget session of J&K assembly is likely to be a stormy one, with the Opposition planning to raise several contentious issues such as state autonomy, restoration of Sadr-i-Riyasat instead of Governor, hoisting of state flag alongside the Tricolour and disbanding of Village Defence Committees (VDCs).

As the two partners in the coalition government have differing opinions on the issues, the session may also highlight the differences between the BJP and PDP.

Awami Itehad Party MLA Engineer Rashid plans to submit a bill seeking restoration of Sadri-Riyasat and Prime Minister in the state in the wake of a recent J&K high court judgment. The session will commence from January 18 in Jammu. Earlier this month, the HC observed the conversion of the post of Sadri-Riyasat to Governor in 1965 was against the J&K Constitution and asked the legislature to uphold the Constitution.

The court directed the government to hoist the state flag on all official buildings and vehicles of the constitutional authorities. Another member of the largest Opposition party, National Conference, according to the party insiders, has decided to bring in a resolution in favour of the court order in the legislative council.

Meanwhile, BJP state secretary Ashok Kaul told ET: “We have sacrificed for our ideology of ‘ek pradhan, ek vidhan aur ek nishan’. We will not allow any such change to happen.” On the issue of state flag, deputy CM and BJP leader Nirmal Singh stated that “no flag can be compared or equal to the national flag”.

However, the PDP, keeping in view the sensitivities involved around the issue, claimed the HC order needed to be discussed and viewed in context of the nature of J&K’s relationship with New Delhi. “The HC order needs to be discussed as it has raised many important legal and constitutional issues. PDP will be discussing these matters,” PDP chief spokesperson Mehboob Baig told ET.

Similarly, VDCs, a militia of around 26,000 civilians, armed by the government in various districts of Jammu region, as per the BJP, should be retained as they have played important role in suppressing militant activities.