There were heated scenes in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday as the debate on Articles 370 and 35A led to chaos among the lawmakers. When AIP MLA Khurshid Ahmad displayed a banner demanding restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, it infuriated the BJP legislators who immediately reacted and tore down the banners, leading the Speaker to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.
Tensions increased when parliament reconvened, with PPP MPs trying to disrupt proceedings by demanding the revocation of a resolution passed the day before in support of special status. As they swarmed towards the well of the House, the Speaker ordered bailiffs to remove them, leading to the forced withdrawal of three BJP MLAs, including MP Pantania.
Despite these disruptions, People’s Democratic Party MP Waheed-ur-Rehman Para moved a resolution with the support of six other MPs, including AIP’s Sheikh Khurshid, Progressive Party Sajjad Lone and independent MP Shabbir Khouri. The resolution condemned the “unconstitutional and unilateral abrogation” of Articles 370 and 35A and called for the immediate restoration and overturning of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Act 2019.
PDP’s Parra said: “The resolution condemns the Indian Parliament’s move on August 5 calling for the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A to their original form. We want clarity; we support yesterday’s resolution against the BJP but seek to The will of the people restored Article 370 to its original form.
People’s Conference president Sajad Lone supported the People’s Democratic Party’s resolution, adding: “Our resolution is clear. If NC supports us or brings a resolution, we will support it. This Assembly is not a playground; we Request to return to the status as of August 4, 2019.
The meeting adjourned until the next day as opposition leaders, including Parra of the People’s Democratic Party and Rowan of the Progressive Conservatives, pushed for another resolution to restore Article 370. They criticized the Congress party’s earlier resolution as “weak” and claimed that the Congress was in alliance with the BJP. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary referred to the former People’s Democratic Party-BJP alliance and suggested “Delhi’s fixed game”. “There is no loss of sentiment among those who formed an alliance in 2014. The BJP’s stand is clear – protect the land, jobs and statehood of Jammu and Kashmir,” Chaudhry said.
In contrast, the BJP remains staunchly opposed to any discussion around Article 370, calling the previous resolution unconstitutional. “This House was not created to kill people or foment riots,” asserted LoP Sunil Sharma. “Yesterday’s resolution on special status is unconstitutional. I urge Omar Abdullah to read the Indian Constitution, which confirms that Article 370 is temporary.
The ongoing feud highlights deep divisions among lawmakers from the BJP, NC, People’s Democratic Party, Progressive Conservatives and the American Independent Party over J&K’s special status and regional identity. Tomorrow is the last day of the Parliament session, a session that has been dominated by political drama rather than addressing pressing issues affecting the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who have elected representatives in hopes of a better future.
