The J&K Assembly continues to face disruption on November 7, as the opposition mounts a strong objection to Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) MLA and brother of Engineer Rashid, Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh displaying a banner on Article 370.
The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Sunil Sharma along with other BJP MLAs objected to the banner display of Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh as the opposition MLAs stormed into the well of the house and were seen involved in a scuffle with Seikh Khurshid and other MLAs of the treasury bench.
The speaker ordered the marshals to remove those members who were seen crossing their limits and asked the opposition leaders to behave properly.
Earlier, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) moved a fresh resolution seeking the restoration of Article 370 and 35A.
“The house strongly condemns the unconstitutional and unilateral abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, along with the enactment of the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019, by the Government of India. These actions stripped J-K of its special status and statehood, underminding the foundational guarantees and protections originally according to the region and its people by the Constitution of India,” read the proposed resolution.
The resolution was signed by PDP leaders, and Sheikh Khurshid too. The first session of the newly elected assembly kick started on November 4.
On the first day too, uproar erupted in the J&K assembly when PDP (People’s Democratic Party) leader Waheed Para, representing the Pulwama constituency introduced a resolution against the revocation of Article 370 and to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
PDP Supremo Mehbooba Mufti also lauded the PDP leader for introducing the resolution in the assembly.
Notably, restoration of Article 370 and J&K’s statehood as well as implementation of the autonomy resolution was one of the main promises made by the National conference in its manifesto for the Jammu-Kashmir elections.
The first session of the new assembly will conclude on November 8. Besides the L-G’s address, there will be obituary references for former legislators who passed away since the last session of the erstwhile J-K Assembly on November 5.
Following a tumultuous day in the J&K Assembly, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders condemned Congress, J&K National Conference and alliance parties on November 7, for bringing in a resolution on the restoration of Article 370.
BJP leader and former union minister Smriti Irani said that the resolution on Article 370 is against the Constitution and the directions of the Supreme Court.
“Today, I stand as an Indian outraged at the attempt by the Congress-led I.N.D.I alliance to bring to the floor of the House a resolution that is against the Indian Constitution. A resolution that stands against the Indian Constitution and the opinion of the Supreme Court of India,” she said in a press conference in Delhi.
Further Criticising the I.N.D.I alliance, she asked them if the parties stand for terrorism in the region and against the rights of disadvantaged groups.”The resolution brought by the I.N.D.I alliance led by Congress brings to the fore many questions. Does it stand against the rights of Dalits, tribals, children and women?… Congress leadership, particularly the Gandhi family, needs to answer – do they stand for terrorism and stand against the development of J&K? Do they stand against the Constitution of India,” she added.
BJP leader in J&K Ravinder Raina said that the alliance government in the state has attempted to side with terrorists and separatists, and said that the resolution regarding Article 370 in the Assembly is illegal and unconstitutional.
(with inputs from ANI)
