The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which began its sessions on Monday, has been marked by ongoing clashes among political parties. On Thursday morning, a violent scuffle broke out between BJP MLAs and assembly marshals after the Speaker ordered the eviction of opposition members. The opposition had stormed the assembly floor in protest over the special status resolution, leading Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn proceedings for the day.
The uproar began when BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma spoke out against a resolution passed in the previous day’s session. Awami Ittehad Party leader Sheikh Khursheed then jumped into the well of the assembly, holding a banner demanding the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. This provoked BJP members, who rushed to the well, seized the banner, and tore it apart.
The Speaker attempted to defuse the situation, assuring the Leader of Opposition that his views would be considered. However, the protests continued, prompting an exasperated Rahim Rather to remark, “You (LoP) are not above the rules. Look at the rules… Don’t force me to act in ways I’d rather not.”
Members from the BJP and Jammu and Kashmir National Conference then raised slogans, further intensifying the confrontation.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary introduced a resolution stating, “This legislative assembly reaffirms the significance of special status and constitutional guarantees that protected the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.”
