The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution on Tuesday calling for the “immediate and urgent” restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory, reigniting the debate over the region’s constitutional status. The resolution, introduced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was approved by voice vote following a heated discussion marked by opposition from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, who walked out before the vote.

Abdullah’s National Conference-led government urged the central government to fulfill what it described as a longstanding commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s full statehood. The resolution explicitly calls on the Government of India to reinstate the region’s status as a full-fledged state, reversing changes made in August 2019 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration.

In 2019, the Modi government revoked Article 370, a constitutional provision that granted Jammu and Kashmir special autonomy, and subsequently bifurcated the former state into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, which retains a legislative assembly, and Ladakh, which does not. This move ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and subjected the region to direct central oversight.

While the BJP expressed support for restoring statehood, party members criticized the wording of Abdullah’s resolution. Their objections focused on references to previous Assembly resolutions from 2000 and 2024 included in the text. The 2000 resolution advocated for reinstating Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-1953 status, a move that was rejected by the central government. The more recent 2024 resolution called for renewed dialogue between New Delhi and local representatives over restoring special status and constitutional protections, but neither resolution is legally binding.

BJP legislators staged a walkout in protest during the debate, signaling their disapproval particularly of the language and historical references used in the resolution. Following their exit, the resolution was passed without opposition.

The passage of this resolution underscores the continued local demand for changes in Jammu and Kashmir’s constitutional arrangement, as well as ongoing tensions between regional political leaders and the central government over the future governance and autonomy of the territory.