MLAs come to blows in J-K Assembly over special status resolution

A brawl broke out between BJP MLAs and marshals of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday (November 7) after the Speaker directed eviction of Opposition members who had stormed the well during their protest against the special status resolution.

At least three MLAs were marshalled out on the directions of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, but a brawl ensued due to resistance put up by the Opposition members.

Ruckus over AIP banner

As soon as the Assembly met on Thursday morning, ruckus prevailed as BJP members protested against the resolution that was passed on Wednesday (November 6).

While BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma was speaking on the resolution, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) leader and Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed jumped into the well displaying a banner that read Articles 370 and 35A be restored.

Khursheed is the brother of AIP chief and Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid.

Also read: Chaos after J-K Assembly passes resolution on Art 370, BJP uproar disrupts House

Banner torn into pieces

This infuriated the BJP members, who also jumped into the well and snatched the banner, which they tore into pieces.

Amidst the din, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes. However, the BJP members continued their protest even after the House was adjourned.

After 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.

Remark that infuriated NC

However, when the protest continued, the Speaker said, “You are not above 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,” he warned.

Sharma, however, said, “I want 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.

Speaker directs marshalling out of BJP MLAs

The BJP members raised slogans “Balidaan huway jahan Mukherjee woh Kashmir hamara hai” while NC MLAs stated “Jis Kashmir ko khoon say seencha, woh Kashmir hamara hai”.

As the uproar continued, the Speaker issued directions that nothing should be recorded or reported.

The Speaker then directed marshalling out of BJP members who stormed the well. Within minutes, it was a free for all on the floor of the Assembly, with BJP MLAs, Khursheed, PDP MLAs, and marshals all getting into the scuffle.

“They deserve it, throw them out,” the Speaker said.

Also read: J&K's Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid back in Tihar Jail

Free for all

As the 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 the slogans of “Jammu Kashmir ki awaaz kya, (Article) 370 aur kya”, BJP MLAs raised “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.

Ruckus continues

Minister Satish Sharma stood up and said the BJP “is playing divide and rule”. He said “Bharat mata” belonged to all.

“The table on which they (BJP members) were standing on yesterday had 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.

Fresh resolution

Meanwhile, Khursheed and People’s Conference chief Sajad Lone, MLA from Handwara, have jointly submitted a fresh resolution demanding revocation of the abrogation of Article 370 terming the resolution passed yesterday as weak and vague.

The resolution submitted by Khursheed and Lone reads: “This House strongly condemns the unconstitutional and unilateral abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, along with the enactment of the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, by the Government of India. These actions stripped Jammu & Kashmir of its special status and statehood, undermining the foundational guarantees and protections originally accorded to the region and its people by the Constitution of India.

“This House unequivocally demands the immediate restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A in their original, unaltered form, and calls for the reversal of all changes introduced by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.”

All three PDP MLAs have also associated themselves with the resolution.

Watch: Chaos in J&K Assembly as PDP pushes for restoration of Article 370

Resolution that was passed

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.

JK 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 JK Assembly calls upon the government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of the people of JK for restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees, and to workout constitutional mechanisms for restoring 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.

(With agency inputs)