Uproar in J-K Assembly over special status resolution, House adjourned

A brawl broke out between BJP MLAs and marshals of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday after the speaker directed the eviction of opposition members who had stormed the well during their protest over the special status resolution.

At least three MLAs were marshalled out on the directions of speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, but the brawl ensued owing to resistance put up by the opposition members. Amidst the ruckus, the speaker adjourned the proceedings for the day.

As soon as the Assembly met this morning, an uproar broke out as BJP members protested against the resolution that was passed on Wednesday. While BJP MLA and leader of opposition Sunil Sharma was speaking over the resolution, Awami Ittehad Party leader and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed jumped into the well displaying a banner that read Articles 370 and 35A be restored.

This infuriated the BJP members, who also jumped into the well and snatched the banner, which they tore into pieces. The speaker then adjourned proceedings for 15 minutes. However, the BJP members continued their protest even after the House was adjourned.

Once the House resumed its proceedings, the BJP members continued to protest, even as the speaker requested the opposition members to take their seats.

"You are LoP, we will hear you," the speaker told Sharma. However, when the protest continued, the speaker said, "You are not above the rules. See the rules. I am very closely watching activities of some members. Don't force me to do what I don't want to do".

Sharma, however, said, "I want the National Conference's drama of special status to end," which infuriated the treasury benches, leading to protests. As the din continued, almost all MLAs stood on their feet.

The BJP members raised the slogan: "Balidaan huway jahan Mukherjee woh Kashmir hamara hai" while NC MLAs retorted, "Jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, woh Kashmir hamara hai".

As the uproar continued, the speaker issued directions that nothing should be recorded or reported. The speaker then directed that the BJP members who stormed the well be marshalled out, leading to a scuffle between Assembly marshals and the BJP MLAs. "They deserve it, throw them out," the Speaker said.

As lone BJP woman MLA Shagun Parihar stood on a table, female marshals were called in to deal with her. As the BJP MLAs were marshalled out, they came to blows with the marshals. Three BJP MLAs were marshalled out of the House amidst thumping of tables by the treasury benches.

While the NC members raised slogans of "Jammu Kashmir ki awaaz kya, (Article) 370 aur kya", BJP MLAs shouted "Bharat Mata ki Jai". Minister Satish Sharma stood up and said the BJP "is playing divide and rule" and that "Bharat mata" belonged to all.

"The table on which they (BJP members) were standing on yesterday had the Constitution of India on it. They stood on it with their shoes on. They should be punished for it," Sharma said. However, the ruckus continued in the House.

After the passage of the resolution on Wednesday, the House had witnessed uproar as the BJP members protested vociferously, resulting in frequent disruptions of the proceedings. Eventually, the speaker had adjourned the House for the day.

J&K deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary had moved the resolution which said, "That 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 J&K Assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of J&K for restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees, and to work out constitutional mechanisms to restore 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.