J&K Assembly adjourned following brawl over Article 370.
This morning, as the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly convened, chaos erupted immediately, with BJP members vocally protesting a resolution passed on Wednesday. The resolution, addressing issues surrounding Article 370, ignited a wave of dissent from the BJP, which strongly opposed any discussions on reinstating the special status previously granted to Jammu and Kashmir.
Members from the BJP vociferously objected to the resolution, leading to a tense and heated atmosphere within the assembly. The opposition’s strong stance disrupted the session, and assembly proceedings were forced to adjourn as leaders struggled to regain control. This incident highlights ongoing political tensions surrounding Article 370.
A major scuffle broke out in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday as tensions flared over a resolution aimed at restoring special status to the region. The conflict began when Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ordered the eviction of opposition members who had entered the well to protest against the resolution. BJP members vociferously opposed the move, resulting in a heated altercation between them and assembly marshals.
The clash saw at least three BJP MLAs forcibly removed from the House on the Speaker’s instructions, as opposition members resisted the eviction process.
Uproar had already been brewing when the Assembly convened in the morning, with BJP members launching protests against the resolution passed on Wednesday, which reaffirmed the demand for special status under Articles 370 and 35A. As the debate unfolded, Awami Ittehad Party leader Sheikh Khursheed jumped into the well of the House holding a banner calling for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. This act provoked BJP members, who followed suit by entering the well, seizing the banner from Khursheed, and tearing it up. To restore order, the Speaker temporarily adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes.
Even after the adjournment, BJP members continued their protests, refusing to heed the Speaker’s requests to return to their seats. The Speaker attempted to restore calm, stating, “You are LoP, we will hear you,” addressing Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma. Despite this, the disruption continued, leading the Speaker to issue a warning: “You are not above rules. See the rules.
Sharma responded with a sharp retort, calling for an end to the National Conference’s “drama of special status,” a remark that intensified the uproar among treasury bench members. The escalating din led the Speaker to order that the proceedings remain unrecorded.
As BJP members continued their demonstrations, the Speaker instructed marshals to remove those who had stormed the well. This sparked a physical confrontation, with assembly marshals clashing with BJP MLAs. In a particularly tense moment, female marshals were summoned to address BJP’s lone woman MLA, Shagun Parihar, who had climbed onto a table to continue protesting.
As BJP MLAs were escorted out of the House, an altercation erupted, with MLAs and marshals coming to blows. Members from the treasury benches signaled their support for the Speaker’s actions, thumping tables as three BJP members were forcefully removed.
The protests continued with rival slogans. NC members rallied with “Jammu Kashmir ki awaaz kya, (Article) 370 aur kya,” while BJP members chanted “Bharat Mata ki Jai.” During the chaos, Minister Satish Sharma accused the BJP of “playing divide and rule,” emphasizing that “Bharat Mata” belonged to all citizens, and chastised BJP members for allegedly standing on tables bearing the Constitution of India, stating they should be “punished” for disrespecting it.
The disruption marked a continuation of the unrest following Wednesday’s resolution, which asserted the Assembly’s commitment to restoring special status for Jammu and Kashmir. The resolution, introduced by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, expressed the Assembly’s endorsement of Articles 370 and 35A, which had historically protected the region’s unique identity, culture, and rights. The resolution called upon the Indian government to open a dialogue with Jammu and Kashmir’s elected representatives, aiming to restore the constitutional guarantees previously in place.
As the Speaker adjourned the session for the day, the intensity of the protests underscored the deep divisions surrounding the issue. The BJP has consistently opposed the restoration of Article 370, viewing it as antithetical to national unity, while the NC and other regional parties view the special status as crucial for protecting the rights and cultural identity of the region. The ongoing protests signal the complexities of addressing the matter of special status in Jammu and Kashmir, as national and regional perspectives continue to clash.
The disruption further highlighted the challenges faced by lawmakers in managing the debate surrounding Jammu and Kashmir’s status. While the resolution represents a call for restoration, it also underscores the Assembly’s intent to navigate this process within a framework that respects both the unity of India and the distinct needs of Jammu and Kashmir’s populace. For now, the adjournment leaves the future of the debate uncertain, with regional tensions showing little sign of abating.