Article 370 Debate Leads to Bedlam in J&K Assembly; NC MLA’s Gesture Sparks Outrage Among Netizens

• Chaos In J&K Assembly’s 1st Session In 6 Years Over Article 370

• NC MLA Altaf Kaloo’s Disrespectful Gesture Draws Ire Of Netizens

Srinagar 05 Nov: There was ruckus in the newly elected Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Monday morning – as it held its first sitting in six years – after People’s Democratic Party lawmaker Wahid Parra tabled a surprise resolution against the scrapping of Article 370 in August 2019, and called for it to be restored.
Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers resisted Mr Parra’s resolution and demanded his suspension, even as Speaker Rahim Rather of the ruling National Conference said he had not yet admitted any motion.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah – who earlier said it would be “foolish” to expect the BJP to restore Article 370 – said he knew the resolution was coming, and said, “The reality is the people of J&K do not approve of the (Article 370) decision… If they did, then the results today would have been different.”

However, Mr Abdullah also said the resolution “has no importance… it is only for the cameras”. “If there was a purpose behind it, then they (the PDP) would have discussed this with us before…” he said.

The BJP-led centre revoked Article 370 five years ago, in a contentious move marked by furious protests from political parties and politicians in Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. The revocation was challenged in the Supreme Court that, in December last year, ruled the provision a “temporary” one.

Article 370 had given J&K special status and privileges. Post its removal the central government also split the former state into two union territories – that of J&K and, separately, Ladakh.

Restoration of Article 370 was among the key poll planks in last month’s election – the first in J&K in a decade, since the PDP-BJP government broke down and President’s Rule was imposed.

The NC-Congress alliance won the October 8 election; as it turned out, however, the NC did not need support, sweeping 42 of J&K’s 90 elected seats and gaining support from four independent lawmakers, as well as the lone Aam Aadmi Party rep, to cross the majority mark of 48.

However, a day after the NC’s victory was confirmed, Omar Abdullah, theh the Chief Minister-elect, said expecting Article 370 to be restored by “the people who snatched it will be foolish”. Mr Abdullah, though, stressed that the NC’s position on this would not change. “We have never said that we will remain silent on Article 370 or that Article 370 is not an issue for us now…” he told reporters.

“We will continue to talk on this and hope tomorrow there will be a change of government (and) there will be a new setup with whom we can discuss this and get something for J&K.”

He did, though, say the election result was a clear rejection of the scrapping of Article 370.

The NC leader, however, did call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led alliance at the centre to restore J&K’s statehood, a promise Mr Modi made in the run-up to the election.

“The PM is an honourable man,” he told NDTV, “… I hope he lives up to his word.” Mr Abdullah rejected the notion that the PM’s promise was contingent on a BJP victory. “Nowhere has the BJP ever said – first there will be our government and then statehood. The PM never said that.”

In a push for what the Chief Minister and the new government feel is the more achievable objective, the new J&K Cabinet, on October 18, passed a resolution for restoration of statehood.

That resolution also emphasised the new J&K government’s commitment to protect the identity and constitutional rights of the people of the former state, whose residents had special rights, including relating to land ownership and job privileges, under Article 370.

And, two weeks ago Mr Abdullah met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi to begin talks on statehood. Sources told NDTV Mr Shah gave his full support for J&K to become a state again.

Since becoming Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah has made it clear he does not want a combative relationship with the central government, arguing this would further hamper J&K’s development.

“Jammu and Kashmir, with its complex security situation and proximity to the border, cannot afford a confrontation between the state government and the centre. I’m looking forward to a constructive relationship in the true spirit of federalism,” he said after being taking his oath.

Meanwhile, The first legislative session of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir quickly turned contentious, with heated exchanges between political leaders that culminated in a viral controversy involving an MLA’s alleged disrespectful gesture.

The incident occurred after MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, representing Pulwama assembly segment, proposed a resolution to reverse the abrogation of Article 370. The debate became increasingly tense, and voices rose as legislators confronted each other over this divisive topic. However, a particular gesture made by Altaf Kaloo, MLA from Pahalgam, during the session has drawn intense backlash online.

Netizens, frustrated and offended by Kaloo’s behavior, took to the social media platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter) to voice their disapproval.

Many users condemned the gesture, considering it an affront to the expectations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. People’s Conference General Secretary Imran Reza Ansari posted a photograph of Kaloo’s gesture on X, questioning the integrity of his party.

“Is this what people of Jammu and Kashmir get when we remind the National Conference of their promise to reverse the undemocratic events of August 2019? Honorable MLA Pahalgam showing the future to People on Day 1 of the Assembly.”

The incident provoked outrage from other social media users as well. Danish Bhat, a Kashmiri netizen, expressed his disillusionment:

“This is for every Kashmiri who believed in them, expecting their first act to be a resolution on Art 370. Instead, they delivered a blatant middle finger—not just to the one who raised it, but to every Kashmiri who trusted them.” Bhat also directed criticism at Member of Parliament Aga Ruhullah Mehdi, questioning the MP’s stance and commitment to Article 370. “If you truly meant what you said on Art 370, know that this middle finger was directed at you too. A betrayal beyond words—absolutely shameful!” Bhat wrote.

A sense of betrayal and disappointment echoed across the platform as other users joined in. One user posted: “Their way of saluting the aspirations of common people, who voted for them in huge mandate,” capturing the sentiments of those who feel misrepresented by their leaders.

Another user, Adil Saleem, sarcastically questioned the NC’s commitment to its constituents, asking, “What is this? Is this in your manifesto?”

Another netizen, going by the handle “Newton,” criticized the gesture as a violation of trust. “The betrayal is undeniable. Every Kashmiri who trusted them on Article 370 has been met with utter contempt. This wasn’t just a broken promise; it was a brazen insult to everyone who believed in their words. Accountability is non-negotiable,” Newton tweeted.

Adding to the chorus of disapproval, Mukaan Bhat voiced frustration at the perceived lack of integrity from NC leaders, stating, “That’s not acceptable at all. The people of Kashmir have faith in them, but what they did shows why the people of Kashmir are losing faith in leaders who seem to be only giving speeches for cameras and fooling people.”

The gesture, now immortalized online, has become symbolic of what many Kashmiris feel is a disconnect between political rhetoric and actual commitment to their aspirations.

With the start of this new legislative session marred by controversy, it remains to be seen how the National Conference will address the incident and respond to the calls for accountability.