[Watch] How BJP MLAs Were Marshalled Out Of J&K Assembly Again Amid Ruckus Over Article 370 Restoration

Srinagar: For the third day in a row, the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Friday witnessed continued disruptions as BJP MLAs raised slogans against Article 370 and special status resolution. At least 12 BJP MLAs were marshalled out of the House after they stormed into the well on the directions of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.

Later, 11 other BJP MLAs walked out of the House to register their protest. Awami Ittehad Party MLA Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh was also marshalled out from the House.

When the House began its proceedings on Friday, People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone, along with People’s Democratic Party’s Pulwama MLA Waheed Para, showcased a poster and called for restoration of Article 370. Following this, the BJP members stood on the tables and began protesting. Meanwhile, Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh stormed to the well, but was marshalled out.

“This is the darkest day in J&K’s democracy. For the last 3 days, the speaker – who is believed to be the custodian of the House, has been implementing marshal law, behaving as the speaker of the National Conference. They want to suppress the voice of the opposition. We believe that all these actions are unlawful, undemocratic and unconstitutional. The resolution (to restore Article 370) was drafted by the speaker himself. We want them to take it back. Article 370 is a history – it can’t be debated now… We wanted to have a debate – about the way our MLAs were manhandled by the marshals at the direction of the speaker, they did this today as well. We will now sit here on protest to run a parallel assembly which is against the speaker,” LoP Sunil Sharma told the ANI.

Lone said that the the intention to behind resolution on Article 370 was to bring to notice of everything robbed from this House. “August 5 2019 is a black day for all of us, we should condemn it,” he said.

The assembly was also adjourned on Thursday after a clash between BJP MLAs and marshals. Sheikh had then alleged that there was a ‘fixed match’ between the ruling National Conference and the BJP. He further said that the National Conference’s resolution didn’t make sense.

On Wednesday, Deputy chief minister Surinder Choudhary introduced a resolution in the House, reaffirming the importance of the region’s special status. The resolution urged the Centre to start discussions with elected representatives to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.