During a session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah defended the use of “Union Territory” in a bill amending the Jammu and Kashmir Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017. This followed a walkout by People’s Conference member Sajad Gani Lone, who argued that passing the bill with that term endorsed the region’s Union Territory status.
Abdullah countered that the region’s status as a Union Territory is a legal reality until the Indian Parliament restores statehood. He emphasized that the assembly conducts all its business under this designation, including finance bills and budget discussions. He criticized Lone’s walkout as political grandstanding, stating, “We are a UT whether you like it or not. This government governs as a Union Territory.”
He further pointed out the inconsistency in Lone’s protest, noting that the term “Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir” had been used repeatedly in previous proceedings without objection. Abdullah stressed that all assembly members, including Lone, had taken their oaths and contested elections under the Union Territory framework.
Abdullah reiterated his government’s commitment to restoring statehood, highlighting their efforts in passing resolutions, raising the issue with the Prime Minister, and consistently advocating for it in Delhi. He dismissed the idea that simply omitting the term “UT” from the bill would alter the region’s current legal status. Peoples Democratic Party member Wahid Para also expressed concerns about the implication of endorsing Union Territory status, prompting Abdullah’s detailed response.
