Days after the election, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session convened on Monday and since then it has been witnessing ruckus. The situation turned murky on Thursday when a brawl broke out after Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, brother of jailed Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid and an Awami Ittehad Party MLA representing Langate constituency, displayed a banner that read Article 370 be restored. This led to a fist fight among the lawmakers.
“We demand restoration of Article 370 and 35A. Release of political prisoners,” read the banner displayed by Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh in the J&K Assembly which commenced on Monday (November 4) for the first time after six years’ gap.
On Wednesday, when the session of the J&K Assembly began, BJP members started protesting against the resolution passed on Wednesday, which asked the central government to develop a constitutional mechanism for reinstating the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma was speaking over the resolution on Wednesday during that time, Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh jumped into the well of the House, displaying the banner.
The marshals tried to stop him from standing, while Abdul Rahim Rather instructed him to take his seat. However, Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh continued displaying the banner.
Some BJP leaders present in the Assembly attempted to snatch the banner from Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh and tearing, leading to a fistfight.
Amid the chaos, the Speaker adjourned proceedings for 15 minutes and three MLAs were marshalled out on his directions.
The session reconvened after a 15-minute adjournment but the uproar persisted due to resistance put up by the opposition members. The Speaker then adjourned the proceedings for the day.
Meanwhile, opposition party MLAs including People’s Conference Sajad Lone, passed a resolution and condemned the abrogation of Article 370.
“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,” the resolution read.
The leaders demanded immediate restoration of Articles 370 and 35A to their original form and called for reversing the changes made by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, urging the government to honour the region’s unique identity and autonomy.
“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. We further urge the Government of India to respect the constitutional and democratic sanctity of Jammu and Kashmir by reinstating all special provisions and guarantees intended to preserve its distinct identity, culture, and political autonomy,” the resolution further stated.
On Monday, PDP leader Waheed Para, representing Pulwama, introduced the resolution to reinstate the special status and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.
On Wednesday too, the J&K Assembly witnessed uproar after the resolution was passed by the Speaker. The move was praised by valley-based parties, but the opposition BJP demanded its rollback.
The resolution has been sent to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary for further action.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, effectively removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganising it into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
With inputs from agencies.
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Watch | Ruckus in J&K Assembly, some MLAs marshalled out after clash over Article 370
