Suhail Khan
Srinagar, Nov 08: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned sine die on Friday after the House passed a Motion of Thanks regarding Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address.
According to a Kashmir Despatch Correspondent, the Assembly convened for a five-day session beginning on Monday, marking its first meeting since the significant developments of August 5, 2019, when the erstwhile state was bifurcated into Union territories, and its special status was revoked. The session was characterized by chaotic scenes from Wednesday onward, which disrupted its proceedings.
For the third consecutive day, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed turmoil over a contentious resolution that called for the immediate restoration of special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
The session was marked by shouting matches, physical confrontations, and a walkout by the BJP. Several party members jumped into the well of the House, leading to their eventual expulsion by Marshals. The continued ruckus prompted the Speaker to eject 12 Opposition MLAs and Langate legislator Sheikh Khurshid.
On the final day of the session, there were chaotic scenes, with MLAs from the PDP, PC, and AIP engaging in a scuffle with BJP legislators. BJP MLAs raised slogans such as “Pakistani agenda nahi chalega” and also jumped into the well of the House, prompting Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to order their eviction.
Immediately after their removal, 11 other BJP MLAs walked out of the House in protest. The Assembly had experienced uproar for two days as BJP MLAs vocally protested after the resolution’s passage.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary introduced the resolution on Tuesday (November 5, 2024), stating, “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.”
The resolution called on the Centre to initiate discussions with elected representatives from the region for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and constitutional guarantees while working out constitutional mechanisms to facilitate this.
“This Assembly emphasizes that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it added.
On the final day of the session, the Assembly passed the Motion of Thanks in response to the LG’s address, after which the House was adjourned sine die by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
