Chaotic scenes in J&K Assembly - Greater Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 7: A day after passing a resolution demanding the restoration of special status and constitutional guarantees and working out a constitutional mechanism for restoring these provisions, the J&K Assembly witnessed high drama.

As the Speaker tried to commence the proceedings on Thursday, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, supported by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, started a high drama, demanding the rollback of the resolution.

The members sitting on the treasury benches immediately reacted to the BJP legislators, and members from both the opposition and treasury benches entered into verbal exchanges over the resolution calling for the rollback of special provisions to the erstwhile state.

The BJP leaders led by LoP Sunil Sharma started sloganeering to demand the withdrawal of the resolution passed by the house, forcing the speaker to adjourn the house for 20 minutes.

While the house remained adjourned, the BJP members stayed inside the house and raised slogans ‘Gunda Gardi Nahi Chalegi’.

As the BJP legislators continued their protest, MLA Langate Sheikh Khurshid Ahmad attempted to storm into the well to confront the BJP members.

However, he was called back by the NC lawmaker, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) and asked to remain seated.

The ruckus continued amid the adjournment.

The NC legislators yelled at BJP members and asked them to “have some shame”.

Pointing his fingers towards BJP legislators, who were raising slogans against the Speaker and the resolution, MLA Rajouri Iftikar Ahmad shouted ‘Chor Machaye Shor’.

In the meantime, the house resumed and the LoP started speaking as soon as the Speaker got back into his chair.

The LoP was stopped by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather saying that he would be allowed to speak at his turn.

“Make him understand. He has not read the basic rules of the assembly. You are not above the law and rules. Take your seat,” the Speaker asked the LoP.

The Speaker said that he was watching the activities of some members and urged them not to force him into making a harsh decision.

Meanwhile, the LoP accused the ruling NC of getting lakhs of people killed in the name of special status, which provoked the treasury benches.

They stood up and started raising slogans, ‘Jis Kashmir Ko Khoon Se Seecha, Woh Kashmir Humara Hai’.

The opposition leaders continued raising slogans ‘Resolution Ko Wapas Karo’ to which the NC leaders replied ‘Special Status Ko Wapas Karo’ and ‘Hum Leke Rahengey Apna Haq’.

The Speaker stood up from his chair and announced that he knew how to keep the house in order but did not want to take any harsh action.

“Maintain sanctity of the house. It is not a fish market,” he said in reply to the LoP who was raising slogans.

Amid the din, the Speaker ordered that nothing should be recorded and reported in the house and ordered the marshalling out of the BJP MLAs.

As some BJP legislators were marshalled out of the house, MLA Handwara Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh entered into a scuffle with BJP lawmakers who snatched a poster seeking restoration of Article 370 from him.

A scuffle was witnessed when BJP lawmakers heckled MLA Langate and Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone intervened and came to his rescue.

However, the BJP leaders also attacked Lone who was rescued by PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra.

During the scuffle, several lawmakers received minor injuries.

As the drama continued in the house, the BJP lawmakers present in the house and the ruling party members continued their verbal brawl.

“RSS ideology ‘Nahi Chalegi’, Go back, go back; BJP go back,” the NC legislators shouted.

The BJP legislators responded by saying that not only the Speaker but the Assembly staff and the marshals were hand-in-glove with the ruling party lawmakers.

The NC lawmakers raised pro-Speaker slogans ‘Speaker Sahab Zindabad’ and accused the BJP legislators of slaughtering the democracy by playing a religious card.

“Come with us to Jammu. I will show you people (BJP legislators), how happy the people of Jammu are with the resolution and the functioning of the government,” Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary told the opposition lawmakers.

Amid the chaos, the Chief Minister remained present in the house, remained composed and calm while witnessing the high drama.

Amid the chaotic scenes, lawmakers including Sajad Lone, PDP’s Parra and Muhammad Fayaz Mir, and MLA Langate Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh stood up displaying their resolution seeking restoration of Article 370 and Article 35-A.

Speaking in the House, Lone accused the NC and the BJP of playing a ‘fixed match’ by not letting anybody else speak.

“Both the parties are creating a drama in the house. Stop the game of fixed matches here,” he said.

Lone informed the Speaker that he had forwarded a copy of the resolution to his chair and continued to speak on it.

However, the Speaker adjourned the house till Friday morning and did not allow Lone to continue his speech.