Srinagar: Days after the National Conference (NC) announced its plans to introduce a resolution on Article 370 in the upcoming maiden session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) declared on Monday that it would strongly oppose this move and that its MLAs would not support any resolution regarding Article 370.
The NC, which holds 42 seats in the 90-member Assembly, is the ruling party, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with 29 seats, serves as the main opposition party in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
Ashok Koul, BJP’s general secretary in Jammu and Kashmir, told news agency KINS that the BJP will not back the proposed resolution.
“No government in J&K can bring back Article 370. There should be no confusion about this,” Koul said.
“If the NC government insists on this, we will oppose it. As the main opposition party, our MLAs will not support any resolution on Article 370,” he added.
He said that the BJP is committed to protect Jammu and Kashmir from “going back to a time of chaos and violence”.
The Jammu and Kashmir government plans to introduce a resolution on Article 370 in the upcoming Legislative Assembly session and will also reinstate the practice of ‘Darbar Move,’ NC MLA and spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq had said.
Sadiq described the abrogation of Article 370 as “unconstitutional” and expressed hope that opposition parties, including the BJP, would back the resolution in the Assembly.
Meanwhile Koul indicated that a decision on appointing the Leader of the Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly would be made within the next two to three days.
Outlining BJP’s legislative focus, he said, “Our strategy will be to prioritize issues important to the people who gave us their mandate, particularly in the Jammu division. We will be a voice for public concerns and fulfill our role as the opposition.”
On security matters, particularly the recent terror incidents, Koul voiced confidence in the capability of security forces.
“Over the last five years, the security situation has been stable, and our forces are well-prepared to counter any threats. We condemn these terrorist acts but our forces will respond firmly to any challenge,” he said. (With inputs from KINS)
