Srinagar: The ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session witnessed high drama on Thursday as MLAs engaged in a scuffle over demands for the restoration of Article 370, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the proceedings for the day.
A day before, the House had passed the resolution seeking a dialogue between the Centre and elected representatives for the restoration of the special status. It also expressed "concern" over the "unilateral removal" of the special status amid strong opposition by BJP legislators.
The ruckus resumed on Thursday morning as BJP leader and LoP Sunil Sharma called the resolution "illegal" while independent legislator Khursheed Sheikh, brother of jailed MP Abdul Rashid Sheikh (Engineer Rashid), demanded the immediate restoration of Articles 370 and 35A.
Khursheed walked down into the well holding a banner that read, "We demand restoration of Article 370 and 35A." This move infuriated the BJP members who also jumped into the well, snatched the banner and tore it into pieces.
The BJP legislators then scuffled with PDP, PC and treasury bench members. As the disturbance continued, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
#WATCH | A ruckus breaks out at J&K Assembly in Srinagar after Engineer Rashid's brother & MLA Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh displayed a banner on Article 370. LoP Sunil Sharma objected to this. House adjourned briefly. pic.twitter.com/iKw8dQnRX1
— ANI (@ANI) November 7, 2024
When the session resumed, BJP legislators continued occupying the well, defying repeated calls for maintaining decorum. "This House is not a fish market; it is the Legislative Assembly," the Speaker remarked as he sought to restore order. He then directed marshalling out of BJP members.
Amid this, Food Minister Satish Sharma accused the BJP of ignoring Jammu's issues, declaring, "Jammu's youth face unemployment, the region's economy is in ruins, and the BJP remains indifferent." National Conference MLA Nazir Gurezi added that the BJP is "not invested in the progress of Jammu."
Adding to the uproar, BJP MLA Shagun Parihar climbed onto a table in protest and was met with counter-slogans from treasury benches championing Article 370. Slogans echoed through the chamber as treasury members chanted, "What is the voice of Jammu and Kashmir? Article 370, and nothing else!"
Meanwhile, PC's Sajad Lone, alongside PDP's Waheed Ur Rehman Para and Mir Fayaz, and independent MLA Khursheed Sheikh, attempted to table a new resolution on restoring Article 370, condemning its removal as unconstitutional.
However, their efforts were unsuccessful as BJP MLAs continued to create ruckus in the house. Lone criticized the National Conference, claiming, "We are submitting a strong resolution for Article 370, unlike the weak stance from the NC. This protest between BJP and NC is nothing but a fixed match. End this charade." As the disturbance continued, the Speaker adjourned the House till tomorrow, the final day of the maiden session.
The resolution
The House witnessed similar scenes on Wednesday as BJP members protested vociferously, resulting in frequent disruptions of the proceedings and eventually adjournment for the day.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary had moved the resolution which said, "This legislative assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal."
It said the Assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of JK for the restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.
"This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," the resolution added.
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