J&K Assembly erupts over holidays for Maharaja Hari Singh and Sheikh Abdullah

The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was disrupted on Tuesday after a National Conference (NC) member demanded that either the holiday marking the birth anniversary of party founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah be restored or the holiday on the anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh be cancelled.

Ruling NC MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi raised the demand as soon as proceedings began, setting off noisy scenes in the House.

BJP MLA Devayani Rana said the holiday on the Maharaja's anniversary would not be cancelled. Backing the call for a holiday on the former Chief Minister's anniversary, NC MLA Nazir Gurezi described the NC founder as a leader of the people.

As BJP members raised slogans against the government, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather asked why they were protesting when Larmi had only placed his view before the House. The Speaker stood up and urged the BJP MLAs to return to their seats.

NC chief whip Mubarak Gul said the demand for a holiday on Abdullah's anniversary reflected the party's position. He noted that the NC government had been in power for many years but had neither changed names nor cancelled holidays.

The PDP also supported the demand for a holiday on Abdullah's anniversary. PDP MLA Waheed Para said his party additionally wanted the restoration of the holiday on July 13 as a tribute to those killed while protesting against the Maharaja's rule. NC MLAs backed Para's demand as well.

Amid the continuing ruckus, BJP MLA Surjit Singh Slathia said his party wanted the House to function and sought answers from the government on issues raised by the opposition. Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat said "hooliganism" would not be allowed and called for a consensus on the holiday issue.

The Speaker said the matter would not be resolved by creating a ruckus. He offered to give time for a discussion if the House wanted one, but not immediately, and asked members not to disturb proceedings. He added that issues must be raised under the rules and that the government needed notice to respond.

The BJP members then staged a walkout, raising slogans against the government. A lone BJP MLA, Vikram Randhawa, remained seated as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah responded to his listed question. The Chief Minister said he saluted the MLA for staying on even as his party colleagues left, calling it a mark of a true representative. Randhawa said he had returned to the House only for the Chief Minister's answer.

AAP MLA from Doda, Mehraj Malik, also sought to raise the issue of amnesty for electricity consumers. When he was not allowed to speak, he protested, asking why he was being denied and telling the Speaker that the Chair must listen to him. Treasury benches objected and asked him to respect the Chair, prompting Malik to stage a walkout.

Speaker Rather said members should maintain decorum, adding that he would not tolerate such conduct and that the member concerned did not know how to speak.