J&K Assembly erupts over Statehood resolution; four BJP MLAs marshalled out

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes on Monday as Bharatiya Janata Party members disrupted proceedings over a resolution seeking the urgent restoration of Statehood, forcing the marshalling out of four legislators.

The trouble began after the Opposition moved a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, accusing him of allowing the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday in contravention of rules. BJP MLA R. S. Pathania cited Rule 215(2) and said 23 MLAs had backed the motion, urging the Speaker to step aside until it was decided.

Speaker Rather said the motion would be listed in the business after 14 days and continued with Question Hour. As proceedings went on, BJP MLAs jumped into the well of the House, tore business papers and raised slogans despite warnings of action for disrupting the House. Four MLAs were marshalled out.

BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma conducted mock proceedings in the well, with several members sitting on the floor. Minister Sakina Ittoo criticised the protesting members, saying they were "only doing drama for galleries".

The BJP objected to references to autonomy and special status in the Statehood resolution, calling them an insult to the Constitution. Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the party would not permit a discussion on it or its passage. "J&K is a sensitive State and we have enemies around. They are hatching conspiracies. We don't want to oppose for the sake of opposition. We want Statehood to be restored. It is our agenda. But the kind of resolution they have brought is in violation of the Constitution and is unacceptable," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary questioned what had become of the Centre's promise to restore Statehood. "Are we going to give up Statehood? What is wrong with the resolution for Statehood? The Home Minister has promised on the floor of the Parliament that Statehood will be restored. They promised before the highest court of the country. What happened to those promises? Two years have passed since," he said. He urged the Speaker to put the motion against him to vote immediately, asking, "Why wait for 14 days?"

Earlier, Sunil Sharma told reporters in Srinagar that the resolution was a "violation" of the Constitution and would not be allowed. He asserted that Statehood would be restored as it was the BJP's agenda, and accused the National Conference of trying to "sabotage" it by inserting its own demands. He said talk of bringing back Article 370, a "double flag" or a "double constitution" insulted the Constitution, and claimed the Union Home Minister had expressed "serious displeasure", stating that discussions about Article 370 or pre-1953 status "no longer have any place in Jammu and Kashmir's politics". The BJP was ready to discuss Statehood, he added, but the current resolution was "abusive at this point".

The resolution was passed through voice vote amid a walkout by the BJP.