The Diplomat Desk
Srinagar, (TDD)Tensions flared in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday as BJP members continued their protest against a resolution calling for the restoration of Article 370.
This led Speaker Abdul Rehman Rather to adjourn the session for one hour.
Despite several attempts by the Speaker to bring order, asking BJP legislators to return to their seats, all 28 BJP members remained in the Well of the House, refusing to comply. “Please take your seats, and we will begin the discussions on the Lieutenant Governor’s speech,” the Speaker said, but the protests did not subside.
The resolution, introduced by National Conferenc’s Deputy Speaker Surinder Choudhary, was passed with majority support. It was backed by two independent legislators, Shabir Kullay and Sheikh Khursheed, along with three PDP MLAs—Waheedur Rehman Para, Mir Fayaz Ahmed, and Rafiq Ahmed—and Peoples Conference leader Sajad Lone.
However, Congress members stayed neutral and did not participate in the voting.
Notably, BJP legislators strongly opposed the motion, accusing the National Conference of aligning with what they described as pro-Pakistani and anti-national sentiments in the assembly.(TDD)