JAMMU: Governing National Conference’s (NC) insistence on restoration of J&K’s “special status” since forming the govt in 2024 drew on Saturday a sharp counter from BJP, which argued that there is no such term in the Indian Constitution while dismissing the call as “no status”.“Show me where the words ‘special status’ are written for J&K in the Indian Constitution. If they can find it, I am ready to face any punishment,” leader of opposition, BJP’s Sunil Sharma, said in the assembly.The dare came in response to NC legislator Javid Hassan Baig’s demand for special status while speaking on Friday’s budget presented by CM Omar Abdullah. Baig contended that the term was enshrined in Article 370, which defined the constitutional relationship between the erstwhile J&K state and the Indian Union.Baig said Article 35A, which flowed from Article 370, was even more important as it safeguarded land rights and govt jobs for J&K’s people. He further argued that J&K’s Constitution existed under the Constitution of India, granting the region internal autonomy, while external sovereignty had been surrendered to the Union.Article 370, Article 35A, the J&K Constitution and J&K state flag, taken together, constituted what was known as “special status” and it is this NC wanted restored, Baig explained. Sharma countered saying NC’s demand must be backed by an explicit constitutional term while asserting that “Article 370 has been buried”. “What is special status? Where is it mentioned? It is mentioned nowhere. Many states seek special packages and incentives, which can include employment or development packages. They can be called special status,” Sharma said.Outside the assembly, Sharma reiterated that there is no reference to “special status” in the context of J&K’s accession or merger with India and accused NC of misleading voters.On Nov 6, 2024, soon after NC was voted to office, the assembly passed a resolution seeking restoration of “special status” but did not spell out what it meant by the term. In May last year, a key NC meeting chaired by president Farooq Abdullah adopted a resolution for restoration of special status and full J&K statehood. That resolution, too, stopped short of defining the phrase.Former CM Mehbooba Mufi’s PDP and Sajad Lone’s Peoples Conference (PC) have earlier asked NC to clarify its position.
