Jammu, April 9 (Gulistan News):
The Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly came to a turbulent end on Wednesday, with chaotic scenes unfolding on the floor of the House. The day, which traditionally marks the conclusion of legislative debate and reflections from the leadership, was overshadowed by the absence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, a series of protests, and continued confrontation between ruling and opposition members.The final sitting was marred by loud protests from both the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some members of the ruling coalition. The focus of the uproar was the denial of an adjournment motion to discuss the Waqf Act—an issue that has been simmering since the Assembly reconvened earlier this week following a 12-day recess.National Conference (NC) members along with their alliance partners pressed hard for the inclusion of a special discussion on the Waqf-related policies, citing public interest and transparency. However, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather denied the motion, triggering backlash and strong reactions.“They’ve done what they wanted to do, but I cannot allow a motion that violates the rules of procedure and conduct of business. This House must follow the rule book,” Speaker Rather asserted amid the din, before adjourning the proceedings till 1 PM and later for the day.As the Speaker disallowed the motion, legislators stormed into the Well of the House shouting slogans like:“Democracy murdered!”“Speaker resign!”“Let the Waqf discussion happen!”Opposition BJP MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, joined the protests and staged a sit-in inside the House. Tensions escalated further as reports emerged of furniture being damaged in the lobby area near the Media Gallery—where a physical confrontation had also occurred a day earlier between BJP MLAs and AAP’s Mehraj Malik.
The most significant political message, however, came through silence—Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was not present in the House on the concluding day. Traditionally, the Chief Minister delivers closing remarks or addresses the House to reflect on the session’s achievements and assure the people of the government’s legislative intentions.
His absence invited sharp criticism from the opposition, with BJP spokespersons calling it “a deliberate attempt to avoid accountability.”
“This is not just absence, it’s abdication. The Chief Minister chose to skip the Assembly on the most crucial day, knowing well the issues being raised by the people’s representatives,” said BJP MLA while speaking to Gulistan News.No official statement was released from the Chief Minister’s Office regarding the absence.
Despite the repeated disruptions, the Budget for the financial year 2025–26 was passed earlier in the session. However, the effectiveness of the House was diluted by:
• Multiple full-day adjournments due to protests.
• Fewer hours of actual legislative debate.
• Limited discussion on key governance issues including employment, infrastructure, and public safety.
• A spike in tensions over the domicile certificate issue, where PDP leader Waheed Para raised questions about 83,742 non-locals being granted domicile in the last two years out of a total 35,12,184 issued.
In addition to legislative tensions, the Assembly also saw a breach of protocol and security concerns. The altercation between BJP MLAs and AAP’s Mehraj Malik inside the lobby, which led to damage to furniture and media equipment, raised eyebrows. Media personnel were present when the clash erupted, and video clips of the incident have gone viral on social media platforms, triggering public outrage.
The BJP later claimed that Mehraj Malik “habitually speaks against Hindus”, and demanded action. However, Malik was seen being supported by a few members of the ruling alliance, adding a political dimension to the controversy.The Assembly has now been adjourned sine die, and focus will likely shift toward preparations for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and local body polls. The events of this session have set the stage for what is expected to be a heated political summer in Jammu and Kashmir.With heightened political polarization, growing public scrutiny, and increasing demands for transparency, the just-concluded session of the J&K Assembly leaves behind more questions than answers. The absence of CM Omar Abdullah, the continuous disruptions, and the refusal to debate pressing public issues will likely remain a matter of political debate for weeks to come.
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