SRINAGAR, NOVEMBER 06: Amid pandemonium, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution demanding the restoration of special status, and constitutional guarantees besides working out a constitutional mechanism for restoring these provisions.
The resolution was moved by Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Kumar Choudhary and seconded by Minister for Health, Education and Social Welfare, Sakeena Masood.
The resolution was put to a voice vote by Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, and passed through voice vote.
The resolution reads, “This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and expressed concern over their unilateral removal.”
It further reads, “This Assembly calls upon the Government of India to initiate dialogue with elected representatives of people of Jammu and Kashmir for restoration of special status, constitutional guarantees and to work out constitutional mechanisms for restoring these provisions.”
The resolution also reads, “This Assembly emphasizes that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of people of Jammu and Kashmir.”
Earlier, the Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, and other legislative members of his party objected to the introduction of the resolution amid noises, leading to the adjournment of the House by the Speaker till Thursday.
After the House passed the resolution through voice vote, the assembly witnessed noisy scenes as the BJP members stormed its well to protest the resolution.
The Speaker had first adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes.
However, as soon as the House met again, the BJP members continued with their protest and raised slogans against the Speaker.
BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, said, “We have reports that you (Speaker) called a meeting of ministers yesterday and drafted the resolution yourself”.
However, Rather told the protesting BJP members to take their seats, saying “Enough is enough”.
Amidst the din, the Speaker then adjourned the proceedings again for an hour.
Even as the House met again at 12:20 pm, the ruckus continued, with the BJP members raising slogans “Go back Go back, Speaker goes back”, and “Take back illegal resolution”.
The Speaker repeatedly asked the BJP MLAs to take their seats, saying, “This does not behoove you”.
The NC members also took to their feet and both sides hurled barbs at each other.
“If you don’t have confidence in me, bring a no-confidence motion,” the Speaker dared the BJP members and adjourned the House till Thursday.
Earlier, amidst an uproar, the assembly passed the resolution through a voice vote, prompting protests by BJP members.
