Lone rescues his rival AIP MLA
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Nov 7: Assembly was adjourned today after a brawl broke out between Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) MLAs and marshals of the Assembly after the Speaker directed eviction of opposition members who had stormed the Well of the House during their protest against the resolution on the special status of J&K that was passed yesterday.
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At least six MLAs of BJP were marshalled out on the directions of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, but a brawl ensued due to resistance put up by the Opposition members.
As the session commenced today, Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma stood up to speak, calling the resolution passed by the Assembly on November 7 “unconstitutional and illegal,” which resulted in a ruckus.
Sharma demanded the resolution’s withdrawal. “The resolution brought here is unconstitutional. You have deceived the people of Kashmir,” he said, pointing towards the treasury benches. He also described NC legislators as “killers of the people of Kashmir”.
Sharma’s comments incited ruling party members, who rose in unison to oppose him, creating uproar. Amid the disorder, Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, the sole legislator from the Awami Ittehad Party, entered the well of the House holding a banner reading “Restoration of Article 370 and 35-A” and “Release of political prisoners,” further intensifying the chaos.
This provoked BJP members, some of whom jumped into the Well, leading to a scuffle as they tried to seize the banner. The BJP leaders later tore the banner into pieces. In response, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
However, Peoples Conference chairman Sajjad Lone stepped in to rescue his political rival, MLA Langate Khurshid Ahmad from the BJP legislators. Lone and BJP’s Mohan Lal received some bruises during the scuffle. Click here to watch video
“He is my opponent, but when I saw him being attacked by a group of BJP legislators, I stepped in. No NC leader had the courage to act, but Waheed Para joined me in the rescue,” Lone later told reporters.
After the break, BJP members resumed their protest, creating more disorder as intense sloganeering and verbal exchanges with the ruling party continued. “The National Conference should end the drama of special status,” Sharma shouted, further provoking treasury members.
The Speaker repeatedly urged the opposition to remain seated and respect the proceedings. “When the Speaker is standing, no one else should be. You are not above the law and rules. Please take your seats. I am watching the activities of some members very closely. Do not force me to say what I do not want to say. This is not a fish market,” he warned.
Despite several warnings, BJP members continued their protest, forcing the Speaker to order the marshalling out of those who entered the Well. At least six BJP legislators, including MLA Akhnoor Mohan Lal, MLA Udhampur East RS Pathania, MLA Bahu Vikram Randhawa, MLA Ramnagar Sunil Bhardwaj, MLA Billawar Satish Sharma, and MLA Jammu West Arvind Gupta, were marshalled out, receiving applause from the ruling party legislators.
However, the protests continued, sparking further verbal duels between National Conference and BJP members. The Speaker again urged order but, with no resolution in sight, adjourned the House for the day.
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