Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned for the day on Thursday following a brawl between the BJP MLAs and marshals, as the opposition members protested against a resolution for the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status for the second consecutive day.
While the opposition BJP said the resolution is “illegal” and demanded its withdrawal, the Speaker said he does not have such powers as anything passed by the House can only be undone by the House itself.
Amid high drama, the day also witnessed a group of MLAs, including those from the PDP and Peoples’ Conference, submitting a fresh resolution demanding immediate restoration of Articles 370 and 35A of the Constitution in their original form.
As soon as the Assembly met in the morning, pandemonium broke out as the BJP members protested against the resolution that was passed on Wednesday.
While Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma (BJP) was speaking on the resolution, Awami Ittehad Party leader Sheikh Khursheed jumped into the well with a banner that read Articles 370 and 35A be restored.
This irked the BJP members, who also jumped into the well, snatched the banner from the Langate MLA and tore it into pieces.
There was a minor scuffle between the BJP MLAs and Khursheed. Finding the latter outnumbered, Peoples’ Conference MLA Sajad Gani Lone came to the rescue of the legislator from his neighbouring constituency. Sajad tried to snatch back the banner from BJP lawmakers, which led to a scuffle between them. PDP’s Waheed Para also intervened and tried to stop BJP lawmakers from tearing the banner.
Amid the din, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
After the House resumed its proceedings, the BJP continued its protest, even as the Speaker requested the opposition members to take their seats.
As the protest continued, the Speaker said, “I am very closely watching the activities of some members. Do not force me to do what I do not want to do.”
Sharma, however, said “I want the National Conference’s drama of special status to end”, which infuriated the ruling party members.
The BJP MLAs raised slogans, such as “Balidan huye jahan Mookerjee, woh Kashmir hamara hai”, while the NC members shouted “Jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, woh Kashmir hamara hai”.
The BJP was referring to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh that later became the Bharatiya Janata Party.
As the uproar continued, the Speaker issued directions that nothing should be recorded or reported.
He then directed marshalling out of the BJP members, who stormed the well, leading to a scuffle between them and the marshals.
“They deserve it, throw them out,” the Speaker said.
While they were being evicted, the BJP MLAs came to blows with the marshals. Three BJP MLAs were marshalled out of the House amid thumping of tables by the treasury bench members.
However, the pandemonium continued, resulting in the Speaker adjourning the proceedings till Friday, the last scheduled day of the session.
The House witnessed uproar on Wednesday too as the BJP MLAs protested vociferously after the passage of the resolution. Eventually, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution that 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 Centre to initiate talks with elected representatives from the region for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and constitutional guarantees, and to work out constitutional mechanisms for the same.
“This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it added.
BJP MLA R S Pathania said it is “unfortunate” that the ruling NC has “compromised the integrity” of the Assembly and made a “joke” of parliamentary democracy by bringing a resolution that questions a decision taken by Parliament.
The opposition party has demanded that the resolution passed on Wednesday be withdrawn. (With inputs from PTI)
