Amid the protest from the BJP members Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution for the restoration of its special status.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary moved the resolution for restoration of special status which was supported by Minister for Education and Health Sakina Masood.
" 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,” reads the resolution.
It stated that the Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.
“This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," added the resolution.
When the resolution was moved, BJP legislators stood up and protested.
There was pandemonium and the BJP shouted slogans saying that Kashmir belongs to them.
They also chanted religious slogans. Then some of them jumped into the well of the House, charging at the Speaker, asking them to withdraw the resolution.
The BJP members also shouted slogans against the Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
The National Conference legislators also moved out of their seats and shouted slogans in favour of the resolution. Chaos was witnessed in the Assembly.
As the BJP legislators didn't allow a discussion on the resolution moved by the deputy CM, Abdul Rahim Rather warned that he would put the resolution to vote.
While the NC and the BJP traded barbs against each other, the opposition members raised several slogans, including “Jai Shri Ram”.
The BJP members chanted slogans like “August 5 Zindabad”, “Jai Shri Ram”, “Vande Mataram”, “Anti-national Agenda Nahi Chalega”, “Anti-Jammu Agenda Nahi Chalega”, “Pakistani Agenda Nahin Chalega”, and “Speaker Hai Hai”.
As the BJP members continued the protest, Speaker put the resolution to voice vote, following which it was passed.
The BJP legislators jumped into the well and shouted slogans.
Soon after, the Speaker adjourned the house for 15 minutes.
When the House resumed business, the BJP again raised slogans against the Speaker and Kashmir based parties for bringing this resolution.
The BJP legislators raised slogans that the "Pakistani agenda will not be accepted."
BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, accused the Speaker of calling a meeting with Ministers the previous day to personally draft a resolution.
In response, Rather urged the protesting BJP members to take their seats, firmly stating, “enough is enough.”
Amid the ensuing commotion, the Speaker decided to adjourn the proceedings for another hour.
When the house met again, the BJP continued with the protest. They raised slogans against the Speaker and asked him to “take back illegal resolution”.
“If you don’t have confidence in me, bring a no confidence motion,” the Speaker dared the BJP members, and adjourned the House for the day.
On August 5, 2019, centre scrapped J&K’s special status and downgraded and bifurcated the erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories --- Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).