Srinagar, Nov 7: The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly witnessed chaotic scenes on Thursday as BJP and ruling party members clashed over the resolution calling for the restoration of special provisions to the erstwhile state.

As the session began, BJP leaders, led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, raised slogans demanding the immediate withdrawal of the resolution. This forced the Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather, to adjourn the house for 20 minutes.

Upon reconvening, LoP Sunil Sharma attempted to speak but was interrupted by the Speaker, who reminded him of the assembly rules. “Make him understand… he has not read the basic rules of the assembly. You are not above the law and rules. Take your seat,” the Speaker instructed.

Tensions escalated further when Sunil Sharma accused the ruling party of causing the deaths of thousands in the name of special status. This sparked a strong reaction from the treasury benches, with members rising to their feet and chanting, “Jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, woh Kashmir humara hai” (The Kashmir we nurtured with blood, that Kashmir is ours).

In response, the Speaker ordered the marshalling out of the BJP MLAs as the uproar continued.

Later, Sajad Lone accused both the National Conference (NC) and BJP of playing a “fixed match,” preventing other members from speaking on the issue.

Srinagar, Nov 07: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was adjourned until Friday following intense chaos over a resolution passed the previous day seeking the restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ordered the marshalling out of BJP members after their continued protests against the resolution disrupted proceedings. The assembly saw heated exchanges as BJP leaders, led by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, demanded the withdrawal of the resolution, leading the Speaker to temporarily adjourn the House for 20 minutes.

Upon reconvening, LoP Sunil Sharma attempted to address the assembly but was interrupted by Speaker Rather, who insisted that he adhere to protocol. Tensions escalated as Sharma accused the ruling party of historical violence tied to the special status issue, prompting an uproar from the treasury benches, who responded with the slogan, “Jis Kashmir ko khoon se seencha, woh Kashmir humara hai.”

The Speaker subsequently ordered BJP MLAs to be marshalled out. Later, Sajad Lone criticized both the NC and BJP, accusing them of colluding to dominate the discussion and prevent other voices from being heard.

Srinagar, Nov 7: The Jammu & Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) held an awareness program under the Vigilance Awareness Initiative in partnership with the Transport Department of J&K. The event took place at the J&K Institute of Management, Public Administration & Rural Development (IMPA & RD), Main Campus, MA Road, Srinagar, and was attended by various districts across Jammu and Kashmir via video conferencing.

Public servants and citizens from different backgrounds participated in the program. The ACB officers delivered presentations covering the functions of the bureau, the responsibilities of public officials, and ways to combat corruption. The session highlighted the significance of transparency and integrity within the Transport Department.

The Transport Commissioner of J&K was the Chief Guest, joining the event virtually from Jammu, while the Additional Transport Commissioner, SSP Traffic City Srinagar, and RTO Kashmir were present as Guests of Honor in Srinagar. RTO Jammu also participated virtually.

The program included speeches from notable ACB officials, including Shakti Kumar Pathak, IPS, Director of J&K ACB, along with AIsG Abdul Waheed Shah and Gurmeet Singh Ghuman. Dr. Ashok Sharma, SP ACB Anantnag, delivered the opening address, followed by talks from Farooq Ahmad, Chief Prosecuting Officer ACB Anantnag, Ajaz Ahmad Masoodi (Executive Engineer ACB Kashmir), Shahnawaz (Accounts Officer ACB Kashmir), and other ACB officials.

Speakers emphasized the detrimental impact of corruption and encouraged attendees to act as vigilant partners in the fight against it. Feedback from participants was collected via a mobile app, which the ACB will review and use to make recommendations to the relevant departments for further actions.

Srinagar, Nov 6: In a dramatic turn of events, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday calling for the restoration of the special status that was revoked by the Modi government in 2019. The resolution was passed amid uproar from BJP members, who staged a protest in the well of the House.

The resolution, passed through a voice vote, urges the Centre to engage in dialogue with elected representatives to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. The move was strongly supported by the National Conference (NC) and other ruling party members, with Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary introducing the resolution. It calls for the reinstatement of constitutional guarantees that protect the identity, culture, and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, which were removed following the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.

BJP leader Sunil Sharma, the Leader of the Opposition, strongly opposed the resolution, declaring it outside the scope of the Assembly’s business. In protest, BJP MLAs stormed the well of the House, shouting slogans against the National Conference government and accusing it of advancing an “anti-national agenda.” The protest intensified with chants of “National Conference sharam karo” (have some shame) and “Pakistani agenda nahi chalega” (no Pakistani agenda will work).

Health and Education Minister Sakeena Itoo seconded the resolution, which had been included in the supplementary business of the day. The resolution emphasized the importance of restoring Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and constitutional guarantees, which it argued are essential for preserving the region’s unique identity and cultural heritage.

The resolution also called on the Indian government to initiate a dialogue with the elected representatives of Jammu and Kashmir to determine the constitutional mechanisms required to restore the special status. It highlighted the need for any process of restoration to balance national unity with the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The BJP’s protest led to a heated debate, and amid the uproar, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House.

In 2019, the BJP-led central government revoked Article 370, which had granted Jammu and Kashmir special privileges and autonomy. This controversial move was legally challenged, and in December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the revocation, stating that Article 370 was a “temporary” provision. The abrogation also led to the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir, splitting it into two Union Territories: Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh.