Kashmir, Nov 08: BJP legislators staged a "parallel assembly" in the lawns of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Srinagar on Friday after they were forcibly removed from the session for protesting against a resolution calling for the restoration of Article 370.
Over a dozen BJP MLAs were physically escorted out of the Assembly, while others chose to walk out in protest. Following the disruption, BJP lawmakers convened outside the Assembly building, where Sham Lal Sharma, a BJP MLA, assumed the role of Speaker and presided over a mock session.
During this "parallel assembly," members voiced their opposition to the resolution.
Pavan Gupta, a BJP MLA, condemned the treatment of his party members, calling the incident “hooliganism.”
He expressed his disappointment with the Speaker's handling of the situation, despite initial hopes that the Speaker’s experience would lead to a fairer approach.
Gupta also highlighted the positive changes in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, emphasizing that the region had benefited from the improved security and peace.
Chander Prakash Ganga, another BJP MLA, accused the legislators who displayed posters in the Assembly of being "separatists."
The commotion started when BJP MLAs attempted to storm the well of the House in protest against the resolution to restore Jammu and Kashmir's special status. In response, the Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, instructed the marshals to prevent the BJP lawmakers from re-entering the chamber. The resolution, which calls for the reinstatement of Article 370, was passed earlier in the week with a voice vote.
The resolution had been proposed by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and supported by 42 members of the National Conference (NC), along with Independent legislators such as Sajad Gani Lone, Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, CPI(M) MLA Yusuf Tarigami, and three PDP members, who all voted in favor.
