Srinagar, Sep 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a major showdown on Monday as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma stormed into the Well and staged a sit-in protest over references to the 2000 autonomy resolution and the pre-1953 position in the statehood resolution.
The BJP said it was fully in favour of restoration of statehood and was ready for a debate on the issue, but strongly objected to references that, it said, sought to bring the autonomy question and the pre-1953 constitutional position back into the Assembly.
“We are in favour of statehood, but the language used in the resolution is against the Constitution of India. It is unacceptable,” Sharma said in the House.
The protests soon disrupted proceedings, with BJP members raising slogans against the government and Speaker Abdur Rahim Rather. The protesting legislators repeatedly entered the Well despite appeals from the Chair to return to their seats.
The situation escalated as four MLAs—three from the BJP and one from the Congress—were marshalled out of the House amid the continuing uproar.
BJP members raised slogans including “Kursi chodo, kursi chodo, Speaker saab kursi chodo” and “Vande Mataram”, turning the Well into the centre of the confrontation.
The BJP’s protest was triggered by the wording of the resolution, particularly its reference to the Assembly resolution passed in 2000 during the Farooq Abdullah government, which had sought greater autonomy for the erstwhile State and referred to the constitutional position prevailing before August 9, 1953.
‘Statehood yes, autonomy reference no’
Sharma maintained that the BJP had no objection to restoration of statehood and was prepared to participate in a debate on the issue.
However, he said references to autonomy and the pre-1953 position were unacceptable and should not be part of a resolution seeking restoration of statehood.
The BJP argued that bringing the 2000 autonomy resolution into the present resolution changed the character of the issue before the House.
The Opposition also objected to the Speaker allowing the resolution to be taken up in its present form. BJP MLA R S Pathania moved a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Rather, questioning his decision to admit the resolution.
Rather said the motion could not be taken up immediately and would have to follow the prescribed procedure.
‘Well turns into protest zone’
With tempers rising, BJP legislators moved into the Well and continued their sit-in, raising slogans against the ruling dispensation.
The confrontation also saw rival slogans from the treasury and Opposition benches, with BJP members raising “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram”, while members on the other side raised slogans demanding restoration of statehood.
The marshalling out of four legislators added another flashpoint to the already charged proceedings.
The BJP insisted that its position on statehood should not be confused with its opposition to the autonomy reference.
The party maintained that restoration of statehood was a separate issue and that the Assembly should debate it without bringing back questions relating to the erstwhile constitutional arrangement.
The controversy over the wording of the resolution has consequently turned the statehood debate into a larger political confrontation in the Assembly, with the BJP challenging the inclusion of the 2000 autonomy resolution and the pre-1953 reference, while the ruling benches have defended their right to place the issue before the House.
The dramatic scenes, slogans, protest in the Well and marshalling out of four MLAs, including one Congress MLA, marked one of the most turbulent episodes of the ongoing Assembly session.
