The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Thursday witnessed a stormy scene, with some members also engaging in a fist fight, after Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, the brother of jailed Baramulla Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, displayed a banner to restore Article 370.
Today’s incident comes amid the ongoing five-day session of the Jammu and Kashmir, which commenced on Monday for the first time after a gap of six years.
As soon as the session commenced, members of the opposition BJP created uproar over the passage of a resolution on Wednesday which asked the Centre to work out a constitutional mechanism for restoring the special status of the former state.
While BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma was speaking over the resolution, Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, an Awami Ittehad Party MLA representing the Langate constituency, jumped into the well displaying the banner. In response, protesting BJP members snatched the banner and tore it.
As a result, the Speaker of the House, Abdul Rahim Rather, adjourned the proceedings briefly. Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) moved a fresh resolution today, seeking the restoration of Articles 370 and 35 (A).
The Assembly witnessed uproar on Wednesday as well, after the resolution was passed by the Speaker. While the move was praised by valley-based parties, the opposition BJP demanded its rollback. The resolution has been sent to the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary for further action. Since the session began on Monday, the Assembly has continued to witness chaotic scenes.
A brawl erupted on the first day after PDP MLA Waheed Para moved a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and called for restoring the union territory’s special status.
Article 370 was a provision in the Constitution that granted special autonomy to the region of Jammu and Kashmir. It allowed the state to have its own constitution, flag, and autonomy over internal matters except defense, communications, and foreign affairs.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, effectively removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and reorganising it into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
