JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday reiterated that his government remains firmly committed to the restoration of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, asserting that Article 370 continues to exist in the Constitution despite having been “hollowed out.”
Winding up the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Lieutenant Governor’s Address during the ongoing Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister said that Article 370 was not explicitly mentioned in the address as it has not been formally removed from the Constitution.
“I want to reiterate that the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference and this government remain committed to the promises made during the elections, particularly the promise to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir,” Abdullah told the House.
Responding to criticism from opposition members over the omission of Article 370 in the Lieutenant Governor’s Address, the Chief Minister said the provision continues to remain on the statute books. “Had Article 370 been removed from the Constitution, I would have said it must be reinserted. It still exists. What has been done is that it has been hollowed out and our constitutional status has been taken away,” he said.
Referring to an earlier resolution passed by the Assembly, Abdullah said the House had already expressed its clear view in favour of restoring the special status. “There is nothing more that needs to be said. Most of its substance has been removed, but the legal framework still remains,” he added.
Article 370 was abrogated by the Centre on August 5, 2019, a move that also led to the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories—Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
