On November 7, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly erupted into a chaotic face-off as BJP MLAs and assembly commissioners clashed over a controversial resolution. The unrest began when President Abdul Rahim Rather ordered the expulsion of opposition members who had stormed the well of the House to protest a resolution on the region’s special status. The move sparked an intense confrontation as BJP lawmakers expressed strong disapproval of the decision and resisted efforts to have them removed.

The meeting had been tense following the resolution passed the day before by the ruling National Conference (NC), urging the Center to reinstate Article 370 and reconnect with the elected representatives of the region. The move, calling for the constitutional restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, triggered strong opposition from BJP MPs, led by Opposition Leader Sunil Sharma, who strongly argued against the implications of the motion. Sharma’s statements were drowned out by opposition members who disrupted his speech, thereby increasing tensions in the house.

The meeting turned chaotic when Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh, Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MP and brother of MP Engineer Rashid, entered the well of the House with a banner demanding that “Articles 370 and 35A be restored”. His symbolic demonstration was seen as a direct challenge to the BJP’s position, prompting BJP members to uproot and tear the banner, leading to a brief physical confrontation.

Amid the tumult, President Rather ordered a 15-minute adjournment to calm things down, but BJP members remained undeterred, resuming their protests as soon as the session resumed. The assembly became a scene of competing slogans, with BJP MPs chanting “Balidaan huway jahan Mukherjee woh Kashmir hamara hai” in defiance, while NC members responded with “Jis Kashmir ko khoon say sawcha, woh Kashmir hamara hai”.

Determined to restore order, the President called on the marshals to forcefully expel the protesting BJP MPs, exclaiming: “They deserve it, expel them.” As the marshals approached, BJP MP Shagun Parihar climbed onto a table, prompting female marshals to be called in to handle her protest. Resistance from BJP legislators intensified when some physically clashed with the marshals, and three BJP MPs were eventually escorted amid applause from the NC benches.

The drama ended with BJP MPs chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, countered by NC’s refrain, “Jammu Kashmir ki awaaz kya, (Article) 370 aur kya”, summarizing the deep divisions within the assembly on special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

A scuffle broke out in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today between @sajadlone, @jkpdp legislators, Langate MP Sheikh Khursheed and BJP legislators. The altercation was triggered by disagreements over the resolution passed by JKNC yesterday, seeking to restore the special status of J&K. pic.twitter.com/G6yfvg5GdX

– kupwaratimes.com (@KupwaraTimes) November 7, 2024