The News Craving
Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly descended into chaos for a third consecutive day on Friday, as a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA from Kupwara displayed a banner calling for the restoration of Article 370, the constitutional provision that granted the region special autonomy until its abrogation in 2019.
The display of the banner sparked heated exchanges, with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators storming the Well of the House in protest, engaging in a physical altercation with Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA Sheikh Khursheed, the brother of political figure Engineer Rashid. In an effort to restore order, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather directed marshals to escort Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh and several BJP members from the chamber.
Throughout the session, BJP members voiced their objections vociferously, raising chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” as they opposed the Article 370 resolution, which calls for the reinstatement of the region’s prior special status. Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma condemned the Speaker’s management of the proceedings, describing the day as a “darkest day in democracy.” Sharma accused the Speaker of abandoning neutrality and acting as a “National Conference Speaker” rather than an impartial figure, alleging that Rather had “imposed marshal law” and suppressed the opposition’s voice. “The Assembly cannot supersede the authority of Parliament or the Supreme Court,” Sharma declared, contending that Article 370’s status should no longer be debated.
Following their ejection from the Assembly, Sharma announced the BJP’s intention to conduct a parallel assembly in protest, outside the House. Sharma further alleged that the Speaker had personally drafted the Article 370 resolution and demanded its immediate repeal.
The turmoil began on 6 November when PDP leader Waheed Para, representing Pulwama, introduced a resolution seeking to restore Article 370 and reverse the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah dismissed the resolution as symbolic “for the cameras,” insisting that genuine backing would have involved consultation with his own National Conference.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who was sworn in as Chief Minister on 16 September, has reiterated his party’s stance on J&K’s autonomy, which was central to its recent election manifesto.
