Pandemonium over special status; BJP holds parallel session outside

Srinagar, Nov 08: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly descended into chaos on the last day on Friday as BJP legislators staged a fierce protest against a resolution over Articles 370 and 35A, which previously granted special autonomy to the J&K.
The resolution, moved by the National Conference (NC) and supported by several regional parties, has caused an uproar in the Assembly over the past three days.
As the Speaker began the day’s session, BJP members disrupted proceedings, demanding the revocation of the NC-led resolution. In a show of defiance, BJP legislators attempted to enter the well of the House, leading to heated exchanges with their counterparts.
The session marked the first sitting of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in six years, following a prolonged hiatus. However, the proceedings were marred by continuous disruptions. After the resolution was passed, BJP MLAs declared they would not allow the Assembly to function unless it was reversed. This led to a walkout by the BJP members, who later set up a “parallel assembly” outside the House, describing the Speaker’s actions as “unconstitutional.”
In the parallel assembly, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma took on the role of Speaker, with members voicing strong opposition to the resolution. Pavan Gupta, another BJP MLA, condemned the Speaker’s actions, calling the removal of BJP members “hooliganism.” Gupta expressed disappointment in the Speaker, emphasizing that his actions had fallen short of the high expectations due to his experience. He also asserted that the people of Kashmir were content with the peaceful situation following the revocation of Article 370 and emphasized that the BJP would continue its protest against what it deemed an “unconstitutional” resolution.
Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the establishment of the “parallel assembly” was a serious form of protest in response to the resolution. He warned that if the government did not alter its approach, the BJP would persist with the parallel assembly as a form of resistance.
Sharma further challenged NC leader Omar Abdullah, claiming that the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A was not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, challenging Abdullah to produce evidence of its constitutional validity. “If Omar Abdullah can show me this in the Constitution, I will quit politics,” Sharma declared.
Tensions had been running high in the Assembly earlier in the week, particularly on Thursday, when BJP and NC legislators clashed over the resolution. BJP members strongly opposed the proposal, labeling it a “nuclear threat” and warning that the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A would undo the progress made since their revocation. Despite vehement objections, the Assembly passed the resolution on November 6.
In contrast, leaders from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the People’s Conference, and the Awami Itiyat Party raised concerns about the resolution’s ambiguity, noting that it did not directly reference the two Articles. These leaders felt that the wording of the resolution was unclear and insufficiently specific. Nevertheless, most of the legislators condemned the August 5, 2019, decision to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, calling for the restoration of the Articles to preserve the region’s unique identity.