For the third consecutive day, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed chaos and ruckus over a contentious resolution demanding immediate restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir. The session witnessed shouting matches, physical confrontations, and a walkout by the BJP. The chaos started after several members of the party jumped into the well of the house and were eventually marshaled out.
The discord began on Wednesday when a new resolution that advocates for the reinstatement of Articles 370 and 35A, was introduced by the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC). The BJP , opposed the resolution and labelled it “illegal” and demanded to withdraw it. Speaker Abdul Rahim however, rejected this demand, saying that the House itself, not the Speaker, held the authority to reverse any resolution passed.
During a speech by the BJP’s Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, Awami Ittehad party (AIP) leader Sheikh Khursheed entered the well of the assembly and held the banner demanding the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. Following this, the BJP legislators quickly intervened, snatching and tearing the banner which led to a brief scuffle and followed a 15- minute adjournment of the House. BJP members continued their protest, despite the Speaker’s calls for order. “Do not force me to take actions I do not wish to take,” he said.
Tensions further augmented when the Speaker ordered the removal of several protesting BJP members and led a physical confrontation with assembly marshals. However, three BJP MLAs were eventually escorted out.
Minister Satish Sharma criticized the BJP’s actions, accusing the party of employing divisive strategies. He alleged that BJP MLAs had shown disrespect to the Constitution by reportedly standing on it during a protest and called for disciplinary measures against them.
MLAs from the PDP, People’s Conference, and AIP united to introduce a new resolution condemning the 2019 revocation of Articles 370 and 35A. Led by PDP MLAs Waheed Para and Fayaz Mir, along with People’s Conference MLA Sajad Lone, the resolution labeled the abrogation as “unconstitutional” and a violation of the core guarantees originally granted to Jammu and Kashmir. In a separate remark, Mr. Lone accused the National Conference (NC) of colluding with the BJP, claiming that the NC’s earlier resolution fell short in strongly denouncing the revocation.
