SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was adjourned until Monday on Friday after BJP members disrupted proceedings over a resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah seeking the urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu Kashmir.
The resolution’s reference to an autonomy resolution passed by the erstwhile Assembly in June 2000 triggered protests from BJP legislators, who entered the Well of the House and tore copies of the resolution.
The resolution states that, in addition to resolutions passed by the Assembly on June 26, 2000 and November 6, 2024, the House calls upon the Government of India to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir “immediate[ly] and urgent[ly]” and resolves to forward the resolution to the Centre.
Members of the treasury benches welcomed the Chief Minister’s move by thumping their desks after he tabled the resolution.
BJP legislators objected to the inclusion of the 2000 resolution, saying they would not permit any discussion on autonomy in the House. BJP MLA R S Pathania said the party would oppose any attempt to raise the issue.
BJP members also alleged that Assembly rules had been violated when Omar read out the resolution before formally tabling it.
The June 26, 2000 resolution had been passed by the National Conference government headed by Farooq Abdullah and called for restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir as it existed before August 9, 1953.
The Assembly had passed another resolution on November 6, 2024 seeking restoration of the erstwhile special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
As protests intensified, members from opposing sides exchanged heated arguments. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather repeatedly asked the legislators to return to their seats and allow proceedings to continue, but the disruption persisted.
The commotion later escalated into physical altercations between some members, according to the proceedings.
Rather first adjourned the House for 30 minutes. When proceedings resumed, the disruption continued, leading the Speaker to adjourn the Assembly until Monday.
