BJP MLAs, Engineer Rashid’s brother ejected from assembly

For the third consecutive day, chaos erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Friday as BJP MLAs protested the special status resolution. Tensions soared when BJP members raised slogans like “Pakistani agenda nahi chalega” and surged into the well of the House. In response, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ordered 12 opposition MLAs, including Langate legislator Sheikh Khurshid, to be removed from the House.

Following this directive, 11 more BJP MLAs staged a walkout in solidarity, voicing their objections to the Assembly’s handling of the issue. This marked the third day of intense protests from BJP members, who have vocally opposed the resolution’s passage.

The uproar began on Tuesday after Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary introduced the resolution. The resolution underscored the significance of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and the constitutional guarantees that safeguard the region’s identity, culture, and rights. It expressed concern over the unilateral removal of these protections, calling on the central government to engage in talks with the region’s elected representatives to restore these safeguards.

The resolution further emphasized that any restoration process must balance national unity with the legitimate aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir’s people. BJP MLAs, however, view the resolution as divisive, arguing it aligns with a “Pakistani agenda.” This stance has fueled ongoing confrontations in the Assembly, highlighting deep political divides over Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy and the future of its constitutional status.

The speaker’s decision to marshal out opposition leaders and the subsequent walkout by BJP members underscore the intense opposition to the resolution and the broader debate on Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy. The Assembly continues to be a focal point for these unresolved tensions, as both sides stand firm on their positions.