Srinagar, Nov 7: The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Assembly witnessed significant turmoil on Thursday as proceedings resumed after a brief adjournment. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather was compelled to adjourn the House again until Friday due to persistent disruptions caused by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs, who vocally opposed a resolution passed the previous day calling for the restoration of Article 370.
The Assembly session became contentious when BJP members raised an uproar, challenging the resolution that was passed by a voice vote on Wednesday. In response, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and other government officials, including Public Distribution System Minister Satish Sharma and MLA Payare Lal Sharma, vehemently countered the BJP’s stance, declaring, “You will never get a separate Jammu.”
Speaker Rather attempted to maintain order, repeatedly urging the opposition to settle down. However, the uproar escalated as BJP MLAs accused the ruling coalition of undermining J&K’s interests. Deputy CM Choudhary accused the BJP of “double standards” and of having “ruined” the region over the past decade, asserting, “You sold Jammu land, you sold everything in Jammu, you are responsible for the mess in Jammu.”
Minister Sharma echoed these sentiments, insisting that the BJP’s actions were detrimental to the unity of the region. “By climbing over the table where the Indian Constitution was placed, you claim to be champions of Indian democracy. You should be punished for desecrating the copies of the Indian Constitution. Jammu can’t be separated from Kashmir. We have to take together Kashmir, Jammu, and even Ladakh,” he stated passionately.
As tensions mounted, Speaker Rather’s requests for the opposition to take their seats were ignored, leading him to adjourn the session until the following day. The BJP’s protest stemmed from their assertion that the resolution for restoring Article 370 is unconstitutional and illegal, following the Article’s abrogation by the Parliament in August 2019—a move that has been upheld by the Supreme Court of India.
The controversy intensified during the Assembly’s discussions, particularly as BJP leaders expressed strong discontent with the government’s handling of the resolution, which they claimed deviated from the scheduled debate on the Lieutenant Governor’s address. Sunil Sharma, the BJP’s Leader of the Opposition, challenged the timing of the resolution, questioning, “When business was about discussion on LG’s address, how was this resolution moved?”
The resolution, initiated by the Deputy Chief Minister and supported by other ministers and independent MLAs, emphasized the importance of constitutional guarantees that safeguard the identity, culture, and rights of the people of J&K. It called upon the Government of India to engage in dialogue with the elected representatives of J&K to restore special status and address the legitimate aspirations of the region’s populace.
Although the passing of the resolution may have limited constitutional impact, it significantly heightens the political tensions between the J&K government and the central authorities. The situation remains delicate as both sides dig in their heels, with the BJP vowing not to allow the Assembly to function until the resolution is rescinded.
As the Assembly reconvenes on Friday, all eyes will be on how the escalating conflict between the ruling coalition and the BJP unfolds, particularly concerning the contentious issue of Article 370 and the broader implications for the future of Jammu and Kashmir.