The Legislative Assembly was adjourned for the day on Thursday following unruly and chaotic scenes, scuffle and brawl and eviction of agitating BJP members by the martials.
As the Assembly met in the morning, pandemonium broke out as BJP members protested against the resolution on restoration of special status with constitutional guarantees that was passed on Wednesday.
While Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma (BJP) was speaking on the resolution, Awami Ittehad Party leader Sheikh Khursheed jumped into the well with a banner that read, “Articles 370 and 35A be completely restored and prisoners be released”.
The banner irked the BJP members, who jumped into the well, snatched the banner from the Langate MLA and tore it into pieces.
There was a minor scuffle between BJP MLAs and Khursheed. Finding the latter outnumbered, Peoples’ Conference MLA Sajad Lone came to the rescue of the legislator from his neighbouring constituency.
Amid the din, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
After the House resumed its proceedings, the BJP continued its protest, even as the speaker requested the opposition members to take their seats.
As the protest continued, the speaker said, “I am very closely watching the activities of some members. Do not force me to do what I do not want to do.”
The Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, however, said “I want the National Conference’s drama of special status to end”, which infuriated the ruling party members.
The BJP MLAs raised slogans, such as “Balidan huye jahan Mookerjee, woh Kashmir hamara hai”, while the NC members shouted “Jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, woh Kashmir hamara hai”.
As the uproar continued and BJP members raised sloganeering in the well of the house and climbed tables, the speaker directed martialling out of the BJP members, who stormed the well.
It led to a scuffle between them and the marshals. “They deserve it, throw them out,” the speaker said.
While they were being evicted, the BJP MLAs came to blows with the marshals. Three BJP MLAs were marshalled out of the House amid thumping of tables by the treasury bench members.
Minister Satish Sharma said the BJP “is playing divide and rule” and stated that “Bharat Mata” belongs to all.
“The Constitution of India was on the table on which they (BJP MLAs) were standing yesterday. They were standing on it with their shoes on. They should be punished for it,” the minister said.
As the pandemonium continued, speaker adjourning the proceedings till Friday, the last day of the five-day session
The House has been witnessing uproar since Wednesday too as the BJP MLAs protested after the passage of the resolution calling for restoration of special status with constitutional guarantees.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution that said: “This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.”
It said the Assembly calls upon the Centre to initiate talks with elected representatives from the region for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and constitutional guarantees, and to work out constitutional mechanisms for the same.
“This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it added.