J&K Special Status resolution: BJP MLAs hold mock Assembly

 

 

 

 

(PTI) OPPOSITION BJP on Friday held a mock session in the lawns of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly after half of its members were marshalled out while the other half staged a walk out of the House to protest against the Special Status resolution. The BJP MLAs assembled in the Assembly lawns and staged a mock Assembly in which they described the House resolution on restoration of Special Status as “illegal” and “unconstitutional”. BJP leaders said the mock Assembly was to protest against the National Conference which has “hijacked the House”. “The House is hijacked by the NC. We won’t allow this to happen. A Constitutional crisis has been brought about by the NC. They have violated the rules,” BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia said. Earlier in the days, 12 BJP MLAs were marshalled out of the House after they protested against the resolution while 11 party MLAs later walked out of the House. There are 28 BJP MLAs in the House whose strength is 88 at present. Ruckus prevailed in the Jammu and Kashmir

 

 

Assembly for the third day on Friday as BJP members protested over the Special Status resolution, leading the Speaker to marshal out 12 Opposition MLAs and Langate legislator Sheikh Khurshid. As the House met for the day, BJP MLAs raised slogans like ‘Pakistani agenda nahi chalega’. BJP MLAs also jumped into the well of the House following which Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather directed that they be marshalled out. Soon after they were evicted, 11 other BJP MLAs walked out of the House in protest. The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was adjourned sine die on Friday after the House passed the Motion of Thanks on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address. The Assembly met for a five-day session on Monday, the first since the developments of August 5, 2019, when the erstwhile State was bifurcated into

 

Union Territories and its Special Status revoked. It witnessed chaotic scenes since Wednesday, disrupting its proceedings. The House has been witnessing uproar from the last two days as BJP MLAs protested vociferously after the passage of the resolution. Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary had moved the resolution on Wednesday that said: “This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of J&K, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal.” It said the Assembly calls upon the Centre to initiate talks with elected representatives from the region for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and constitutional guarantees, and to work out constitutional mechanisms for the same. “This Assembly emphasises that any process for restoration must safeguard both national unity and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it added.