BJP enters Well, tears papers and holds mock proceedings; Speaker refuses to vacate Chair

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NEWS AGENCY KASHMIR NEWS TRUST #KNT

Srinagar, Sep 28, KNT: BJP legislators on Monday staged a major protest in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statehood resolution, with the agitation escalating into the Well of the House and disrupting proceedings.

The BJP also submitted a notice seeking the removal of Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, with Udhampur East MLA R.S. Pathania informing the House about the move.

Pathania questioned the Speaker’s continuation in the Chair while the notice seeking his removal was pending and demanded that he vacate the Chair.

The Speaker, however, said the notice had been submitted in writing and that, under the applicable procedure, the matter could be taken up after the prescribed 14-day period.

Rather declined to vacate the Chair and continued with Question Hour.

Following the Speaker’s decision, BJP legislators entered the Well of the House and raised slogans demanding that Rather leave the Chair. Papers were thrown towards the Chair and business papers were torn during the protest.

The BJP members subsequently conducted mock proceedings from the Well of the House as the disruption continued.

The protest was centred on the wording of the statehood resolution moved by Omar Abdullah, particularly its references to the Assembly’s 2000 autonomy resolution and the resolution passed in November 2024 concerning the constitutional position of Jammu and Kashmir.

The BJP has said it supports restoration of statehood but objects to linking the demand with references to autonomy, Article 370 and the earlier constitutional arrangements.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary defended the government’s position during the uproar and questioned the BJP’s objection to the proceedings.

Despite the disruption, the Speaker continued to preside over the House and Question Hour proceeded amid noisy scenes.

The developments marked a fresh escalation in the Assembly over the statehood resolution, with the Speaker-removal notice and the protest becoming a parallel issue during the day’s proceedings. [KNT]