The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed intense political friction on Monday as discussions surrounding a resolution to restore the region's full statehood led to massive disruptions. The motion, brought forward by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, immediately triggered a fierce clash between the ruling side and the opposition. Bharatiya Janata Party legislators strongly objected to the language used in the draft, pointing out references to the pre-1953 constitutional position, the 2000 autonomy proposal, and Article 370, arguing that these elements should not form part of the statehood push.
Notice to Remove the Speaker and Question Hour
As soon as the assembly proceedings commenced, BJP MLA RS Pathania addressed Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to announce a significant development. He informed the house that the BJP had formally moved a notice seeking the removal of the Speaker from his chair. Pathania raised this matter inside the chamber and presented the document before the Speaker. Responding to the development, the Speaker stated that he had received the notice and noted that, according to assembly rules, any such motion can be taken up for discussion on any day following a fourteen-day period from the date of receipt. He then instructed the administration to proceed with the scheduled Question Hour.
Well Protests and Opposition Demands
Despite the Speaker's directive to carry on with the Question Hour, BJP legislators stood up from their seats and rushed into the well of the house, raising loud slogans. The protesting members demanded that the Speaker vacate the chair. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma clarified that the BJP firmly supports the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and remains open to a positive debate on the matter. However, he maintained that the push for statehood must not be conflated with unrelated contentious issues such as the pre-1953 setup, the 2000 autonomy resolution, or Article 370.
Congress Demonstrations and Resignation Demands
The opposition benches saw parallel protests from Congress legislators as well. During the proceedings, Congress MLA Irfan Hafeez Lone displayed a banner inside the chamber and raised slogans demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Other Congress members joined in the agitation, further escalating the chaos. The continuous shouting and counter-sloganeering from both sides disrupted the functioning of the assembly multiple times. The Speaker repeatedly urged all members to uphold the dignity and discipline of the house, warning that strict action would be taken against anyone violating the rules.
Marshals Summoned to Clear the House
With the pandemonium showing no signs of abating, authorities were forced to summon marshals into the assembly hall to restore order. Several lawmakers who refused to halt their protests were physically escorted out of the premises by the marshals. The legislators who faced eviction included BJP MLAs Vikram Randhawa and Arvind Gupta, alongside Congress MLAs Irfan Hafeez Lone and Iftikhar Ahmed. The dramatic events underscored the deep political divisions inside the newly convened legislature over core constitutional debates.
