SRINAGAR: All BJP legislators staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday, accusing Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather of favouring ruling party members while allocating speaking time in the House.
The BJP members left the Assembly despite the Speaker’s efforts to persuade them to remain in their seats, with Rather insisting that he was not discriminating between members.
Ahead of the walkout, the House witnessed heated exchanges between BJP legislators and treasury bench members, who accused the national party of engaging in divisive politics and of stalling the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College after most of the selected students belonged to the Muslim community.
As the Speaker attempted to restore order, BJP leaders objected to the time allotted to National Conference legislator Sajad Shaheen, who was speaking on the motion of thanks to the Lieutenant Governor’s address.
The BJP alleged that ruling party legislators were being given more time to speak, while their own members were repeatedly ignored or cut short.
The Speaker rejected the allegations, stating that the proceedings were being conducted strictly in accordance with established rules and parliamentary conventions.
