Flags omission of amendments on Article 370, Statehood and rationalisation of reservation in J&K Assembly
SRINAGAR (KIMS) — Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference President and MLA Handwara Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday raised concerns in the Assembly over the selective rejection of amendments moved to the Lieutenant Governor’s Address, urging legislators to prioritise substance over street politics.
Speaking to the media, Lone said his party had proposed six amendments to the Address, two of which were rejected. One sought a clear articulation of continued efforts towards the restoration of Article 370, Article 35-A and Statehood, while the other called for the revival of intra-district and intra-divisional recruitment to address employment challenges faced by local youth and rationalise the reservation framework.
He said four amendments were accepted, including those related to the regularisation of daily wagers, clarification on the status and location of the National Law University (NLU) as assured by the Chief Minister, and a strong condemnation of attacks on Kashmiris, along with clarity on the State Government’s engagement with other states on the issue.
Terming street protests by the National Conference as “theatrics,” Lone asserted that the Assembly floor not demonstrations outside it constitutes the enduring record of accountability.
“History will read what was said and decided inside the House,” he said, adding that the real test of conviction lies in voting on the amendments. If passed, he explained, the matter would return to the LG’s office for redrafting, reinforcing the constitutional process rather than street posturing.
On the controversy surrounding the NLU, the MLA clarified that despite its nomenclature, it is a State University approved by the Cabinet in 2018. He stressed that the Chief Minister’s assurance regarding its location must be respected, noting that the project involves a modest financial outlay and should not be politicised.
Referring to the absence of daily wagers in the original Address, Lone said this omission was precisely why amendments were moved. “Let the House vote,” he said, “and then it will be clear who truly stands with them.”
Concluding, Lone expressed hope that the law would be interpreted with the flexibility it allows to enable decisions in the larger public interest, reiterating his call for principled engagement inside the House over performative politics. — (KIMS)