J&K politics
Omar Abdullah’s statehood push blocked? J&K bureaucrats write to Speaker; CM hits back
Hours before the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly took up discussion on the restoration of statehood, an unusual bureaucratic intervention triggered a fresh confrontation between the elected government and the administration.
J&K Chief Secretary Atal Duloo and Law Secretary Achal Sethi sent separate letters to the Assembly Secretariat, arguing that the statehood issue was sub judice and seeking to prevent the resolution from being taken up.
The resolution had been moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on September 25 and admitted by the House.
The Assembly ultimately passed it on Monday amid a walkout by BJP legislators.
Speaker questions bureaucratic intervention
Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather questioned the decision by senior bureaucrats to communicate directly with the Assembly Secretariat.
Speaking to NDTV, Rather said he was not aware of any precedent where the bureaucracy had written to the Assembly Secretariat to stop House business, particularly without the approval of the minister concerned.
He described the move as an attempt to undermine the functioning of the legislature.
‘I had no knowledge of the letter’: Omar Abdullah
Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Law portfolio, said he was unaware that the officials had sent their opinions to the Speaker until the Assembly Secretariat informed him.
Speaking during the discussion, Abdullah questioned how officials working under his department could send an opinion opposing a resolution moved by him without his knowledge.
“I am the Law Minister and also Chief Minister but I have no knowledge of my bureaucracy sending an opinion to you on my resolution.”
Abdullah argued that the episode demonstrated the difficulties of governing Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory, saying such a situation would not arise in a full-fledged state.
‘This can happen only in a Union Territory’
The Chief Minister linked the bureaucratic intervention to the larger question of restoring J&K's statehood.
He said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been "humiliated" following the loss of statehood and special status and maintained that the demand for restoration of statehood was a matter of right.
Abdullah also questioned whether a chief minister in a full state would face a situation where the bureaucracy formally objected to a resolution introduced by the elected government.
“This can happen only in a Union Territory,” he said.
BJP walks out as resolution is passed
The controversy over the bureaucratic letters came amid a larger political confrontation inside the Assembly.
BJP legislators opposed aspects of the resolution and eventually walked out of the House. The resolution was subsequently passed by a majority.
Amendments moved during the debate also brought references to autonomy and the region's pre-August 2019 status into the discussion.
The resolution calls for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and is to be forwarded to the Union Government.
Statehood remains at centre of J&K politics
Restoration of statehood has remained a central demand of the Omar Abdullah-led government since it took office after the 2024 Assembly election.
The latest Assembly resolution adds another chapter to the continuing dispute over the division of powers between the elected government, the Lieutenant Governor's administration and the Union government in Jammu and Kashmir.
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