'Half-hearted effort': Mehbooba on NC’s resolution on restoration of Article 370

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution moved by deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary which sought a dialogue between the Centre and elected representatives for restoration of the special status.

Srinagar: Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday termed the resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly seeking a dialogue between the Central government and elected representatives of Union Territory (UT) for restoration of Article 370 as a “half-hearted” effort, suggesting it could have been framed more effectively.

“The language of this resolution could have been better. It fails to condemn the abrogation of Article 370,” Mufti said in a press briefing. “They (National Conference) talk about a dialogue to restore special status, but what exactly is the dialogue for? Do they not believe that the events of August 5, 2019, were wrong?”

“I would say it was a half-hearted effort. It is sad that the resolution did not term the abrogation (of Article 370) as illegal,” the PDP chief said. “There is a need to correct the language of the resolution. The PDP will do it.”

The resolution to restore Article 370 was also moved by PDP MLA Waheed Para on the first day of the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session, demanding the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather stated that the resolution had not reached him, but he would review it once it did, following protests from BJP lawmakers.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said that the resolution moved by the PDP was introduced just ‘for the cameras’ and carries no real significance.

Mehbooba, however, claimed that the PDP’s initiative had forced the National Conference to bring forward its own resolution today. “They introduced their resolution because the PDP did so first,” she asserted.

Asked whether the PDP was seeking credit for the resolution's passage, Mehbooba responded that it wasn’t about seeking credit or blame.

“We promised the people that we would take this step if elected. We fulfilled that promise, and perhaps the NC did so under pressure,” she said, adding that the PDP had proven that "what matters is not the numbers, but the sincerity behind your promises."