Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, Nov 7: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly session descended into disorder on Thursday, leading Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn proceedings for the day after fierce protests erupted over a resolution concerning the region’s special status.
According to Kashmir Despatch reporters covering the session, the uproar started when Speaker Rather ordered the removal of opposition members who had stormed into the well of the House, vocally opposing the resolution on Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. This move sparked a standoff, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators protesting vehemently and resisting the Speaker’s efforts to restore order.
The disruption began almost immediately as the assembly convened. Opposition members, led by Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, voiced strong objections to the resolution, calling for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. Sheikh, who is also the brother of MP Engineer Rashid, held a banner in the well of the House reading, “Articles 370 and 35A be restored.” This symbolic protest appeared to directly challenge the BJP’s stance, triggering a confrontation with BJP MLAs, who seized and tore the banner, sparking a brief but intense physical altercation.
In an attempt to defuse tensions, Speaker Rather initially called for a 15-minute adjournment. However, BJP members remained undeterred, resuming their protests as soon as the session reconvened. The floor quickly erupted into a clash of slogans, with BJP legislators chanting, “Balidaan huway jahan Mukherjee woh Kashmir hamara hai,” while National Conference (NC) members countered with, “Jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, woh Kashmir hamara hai.”
The situation escalated as Speaker Rather ordered the marshals to forcibly remove protesting BJP MLAs, declaring, “They deserve it; throw them out.” In a dramatic turn, BJP MLA Shagun Parihar climbed onto a table in defiance, prompting female marshals to intervene. Despite the marshals’ efforts, BJP legislators continued to resist, with some physically clashing with security personnel. Eventually, three BJP MLAs were removed from the assembly amidst applause from the NC benches.
As the protests showed no signs of abating, Speaker Rather warned members against flouting the rules, stating, “I am very closely watching the activities of some members.” Meanwhile, BJP leader Sunil Sharma accused the NC of staging a “drama” over special status, which further incensed the treasury benches and intensified the protests.
This heated exchange marked a dramatic moment in the assembly’s five-day session, the first such gathering in six years, which began on Monday. With the chamber in disarray, Speaker Rather was ultimately forced to adjourn the proceedings for the day amidst high tensions and lingering political divisions.
