SRINAGAR, Sept 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed noisy scenes on Monday as BJP members entered the Well of the House, tore business papers and conducted mock proceedings while protesting over the statehood resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
The disruption came amid the BJP’s opposition to references to the 2000 autonomy resolution and the pre-1953 constitutional position in the statehood resolution. BJP members have maintained that they support restoration of statehood but object to the language and references included in the resolution.
The BJP had also submitted a notice seeking the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, with MLA R S Pathania informing the House about the move. The notice is to be processed under the applicable rules and procedure.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the BJP was in favour of restoration of statehood but opposed what he described as references that were inconsistent with the Constitution.
He said the party did not want to oppose the statehood demand merely for the sake of opposition, but would not accept the present resolution in its current form.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary questioned the BJP’s opposition to the resolution and referred to the Centre’s stated commitment to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
During the heated proceedings, BJP members raised slogans and moved into the Well of the House. Some members tore business papers, while BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma began conducting mock proceedings from the Well.
Minister Sakina Ittoo criticised the protesting BJP members, accusing them of creating a spectacle in the Assembly.
The confrontation follows several days of disruptions in the House over the statehood resolution, which calls for the immediate restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
