BJP MLAs gathered in J&K assembly over Article 370 | India News – Times of India

SRINAGAR: The J&K Assembly resembled a fight club on Thursday as BJP MLAs clashed with marshals after Speaker Abdul Rahim earlier ordered the expulsion of opposition members who protested the adoption of a resolution on the restoration of the former state’s special status – which was revoked in 2019 with the abrogation of Article 370.
The commotion started when independent MLA Sheikh Khursheed of jailed Awami Ittehad Party of Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid displayed a banner advocating Article 370 and 35A. BJP legislators stormed the well and tore the banner. The speaker briefly adjourned the House but the BJP members continued their protest and refused to heed the calls for order.
Resuming, opposition leader Sunil Sharma of BJP opposed the meeting passing the resolution on Wednesday – calling it a “drama”. This led to disagreement among the members of the treasury bench.
Slogans filled the House as BJP MLAs chanted in support of Kashmir’s integration with India: “Balidaan huway jahan Mukerjee woh Kashmir hamara hai.” Members of the National Conference (NC) responded by emphasizing their loyalty to J&K: “Jis Kashmir ko khoon say seecha, woh Kashmir hamara hai.” CM Omar Abdullah looked grim and watched the shouting match in silence.
As tempers flared, Speaker Liever ordered the marshals to remove BJP members, resulting in a physical altercation. BJP MLA Shagun Parihar’s protest by standing on a table prompted women marshals to intervene, worsening the ruckus. Finally, the speaker adjourned the proceedings for the day.
The disruption stemmed from the resolution urging the Union government to initiate dialogue to restore the special status and constitutional protection afforded to J&K under Article 370.
Later, J&K BJP president Sat Sharma said, “NC has tabled the resolution. NC knows very well that even if it is brought 100 times, they will not succeed as long as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are at the Centre. They do this to distract people and disturb the peace.”
His predecessor Ravinder Raina said the BJP will not allow Article 370 to be restored. “Article 370 has become history and can never return,” he asserted.
While Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary and Food Minister Satish Sharma accused the BJP of “driving a wedge between Kashmir and Jammu”, Assembly chief and MLA Sajad Lone alleged that NC is playing a “fixed match” with the BJP by toning down to adopt a resolution.
“We demand the immediate reversal of Article 370, the restoration of statehood and the complete annulment of the Reorganization Law,” Lone said.
Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo responded, saying Lone was a minister in the previous PDP-BJP government through the “Nagpur quota”. “PM Modi used to be his elder brother,” Itoo said, referring to Lone’s previous alliance with BJP.