The legislative assembly of Indian-administered Kashmir passed a resolution on Wednesday urging the central government to reinstate the territory’s partial autonomy, which was revoked in 2019 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration. The resolution, passed by a majority, calls for New Delhi to engage in dialogue with elected representatives to restore the region’s special status and safeguard its cultural and constitutional identity.
The 2019 revocation, a sudden decision that stripped the Muslim-majority region of its autonomy, came alongside widespread arrests and a communication shutdown. Since then, the area has been under the administration of a governor appointed by New Delhi, though recent elections saw a legislative assembly established in opposition to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed confidence in the assembly’s action, asserting, “The assembly has done its job.”
The assembly’s resolution, however, remains non-binding and requires approval from the centrally appointed governor. BJP legislators, who hold 29 seats in the 90-member body, opposed the resolution.
The repeal of Kashmir’s special status in 2019 not only enforced direct rule but also downgraded the region from a state to a “union territory.” Modi has stated that statehood will be restored, but no timeline has been provided.
Since the revocation, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 500,000 Indian troops are stationed, has seen continued conflict tied to a decades-long separatist movement that has cost tens of thousands of lives. The region remains a point of contention between India and Pakistan, with both countries claiming it in full since the 1947 partition.
