Thursday’s meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was chaotic, with confusion, heated exchanges and even physical altercations among lawmakers. There has been an uproar over the ongoing debate over Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir until its abrogation in 2019. of lawmakers (the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reignited the issue despite nationwide awareness that its comeback is highly unlikely.
In today’s DNA, Anant Tyagi gives you an insight into the political DNA of the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders who are reigniting this issue.
DNA: The ‘drama’ of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s Article 370. Article 370 There is no way to go back.. So why do we still need this show?
Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s ‘credibility war’ over Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s ‘match fix’ over Article 370#DNA #JammuKashmir #Article 370 @Anant_Tyagii @time changes life pic.twitter.com/R3XvhDJKJV— Zee News (@ZeeNews) November 7, 2024
The scene in the Assembly quickly escalated as NC and PDP members hoisted large banners demanding restoration of Article 370. North Carolina Congressman Khurshid Ahmed Sheikh held up banners and shouted slogans, prompting an angry response from PPP members. A BJP lawmaker reportedly tore down Sheikh’s flag, triggering a physical altercation that included pushing and shouting. Law enforcement officers stepped in to separate lawmakers and restore order, but the meeting had turned into what observers described as a “fish market.”
NC and PDP, two former rivals who have occasionally aligned themselves on the issue of Article 370, have tried to pass resolutions urging the central government to restore the provision. However, the resolution failed to move forward due to opposition from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Parliament continues to tussle over the symbolic gesture.
Speaker Johnson has repeatedly called for calm, but his pleas have been largely ignored. Observers noted a visible smile on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s face as the riots unfolded, raising questions about the political motives behind the riots. “This has nothing to do with Article 370,” a BJP spokesperson said. “It’s a fight for relevance in Parliament and lawmakers are using the People’s Assembly to wage their own credit war.”
Political analysts point out that Article 370 has taken on symbolic significance in J&K and its past significance is essentially a thing of the past. A large section of the parliamentary opposition believes that by stoking the debate around Article 370, the NC and PDP aim to attract specific groups in the region who pay close attention to the issue.
