J&K Assembly Session Opens Amid Statehood Demand and BJP Protests
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session began with renewed calls for statehood restoration, while BJP MLAs protested with placards and slogans, prompting the Speaker to urge them to take their seats.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly convened on Monday with a renewed demand for the restoration of statehood, even as proceedings were disrupted by protesting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members. According to officials, the session opened with legislators raising the long-standing demand, underscoring the continuing political focus on the region's constitutional status.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather urged the BJP MLAs to return to their seats so that the legislative agenda could proceed. However, the members, holding placards, continued with their slogans, creating a chaotic atmosphere in the House. The disruption delayed the start of scheduled business.
The demand for statehood restoration has been a recurring theme in the Assembly, with several parties pressing for the reversal of the 2019 decision that downgraded Jammu and Kashmir to a Union Territory. The BJP's protest added a layer of tension to the opening day, highlighting the deep divisions within the House.
As the session progresses, the Speaker's appeal for order and the opposition's insistence on its demands are likely to shape the tone of legislative business in the coming days.