Srinagar, Sep 29 — Ruling National Conference (NC) spokesperson and MLA, Tanvir Sadiq, on Tuesday slammed what he called ‘bureaucratic interference’ in the statehood restoration resolution, saying that this underlines why Jammu and Kashmir needs full statehood.
The NC leader questioned the role of bureaucracy in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it underlines the restoration of statehood to the UT.
Tanvir Sadiq said on X, “Next time anyone asks why J&K needs statehood, just read this. "Can you imagine a state where senior bureaucrats write to the Assembly Speaker seeking to stop a resolution moved by the elected Chief Minister without even the knowledge of the concerned minister?
"This isn’t about one government or one party. It is about who is ultimately accountable to the people. That is precisely why J&K needs its statehood back," he added.
His remarks came after reports that a senior bureaucrat had written to Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather seeking to stop the statehood resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the Assembly.
Chief Minister Abdullah, while speaking in favour of the statehood restoration resolution, told the Legislative Assembly on Monday he had learnt that, without his knowledge, the J&K Law Secretary had written to the Assembly Speaker not to allow the statehood resolution to be placed before the House.
CM Abdullah also said the Chief Secretary had also written to the Speaker in this regard.
After passing the statehood restoration resolution, the Legislative Assembly Secretariat sent the resolution to the Chief Secretary.
“The resolution is, accordingly, forwarded for information and necessary action,” the secretary of the Assembly said in his letter to the Chief Secretary. The letter, however, did not specifically say that the resolution should be sent to the Central government.
BJP has taken exception to the wording of the resolution, which says, “In addition to the Resolution passed by this House on 26th June 2000 and 6th November 2024, this House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and resolves that this resolution be forwarded to the Government of India”.
BJP said it supports statehood to J&K, but its linkage to previous resolutions seeking restoration of Article 370 and autonomy is constitutionally flawed and thus not acceptable.