Chaos erupts in J&K assembly as Engineer Rashid’s brother displays article 370 banner
A ruckus broke out in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday after Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, MLA from Langate, displayed a banner demanding the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. Sheikh, the brother of jailed MP Engineer Rashid, stormed into the well of the House, holding a banner that read, “We demand restoration of Article 370 and 35A. Release of political prisoners.”
His actions prompted objections from BJP’s Sunil Sharma, the Leader of the Opposition, and marshals tried to stop him. Despite the Speaker’s instructions to take his seat, Sheikh stood firm, causing BJP leaders to attempt to seize the banner. This led to a fist fight between the lawmakers. PDP MLA Waheed Para intervened to rescue Sheikh during the scuffle.
Meanwhile, opposition MLAs, including People’s Conference leader Sajad Lone, passed a resolution condemning the abrogation of Article 370. The resolution called the actions of the Government of India “unconstitutional” and demanded the restoration of both Article 370 and 35A in their original form. The resolution also criticized the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which stripped the region of its special status and statehood.
The resolution read, “This House strongly condemns the unconstitutional and unilateral abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A.” It urged the government to reverse the changes made by the Reorganisation Act and respect the region’s unique identity and autonomy. The leaders reiterated their call for the immediate restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s special provisions, asserting that the region’s distinct identity, culture, and political autonomy must be preserved.
As the tension in the Assembly escalated, it was clear that the issue of Article 370 remains a deeply contentious one in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
