SRINAGAR: BJP legislators staged a sit-in in the Well of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday, escalating a confrontation with the ruling benches over the wording and contents of the resolution seeking restoration of full statehood.
The BJP members continued their protest as proceedings were underway, with senior party leader and MLA Shamlal Sharma addressing the protesting legislators. The demonstration effectively created a parallel scene on the floor of the House while the Speaker and other members continued with the listed business.
The protest followed a sharp exchange over Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statehood resolution, which calls for the “immediate and urgent” restoration of full statehood while referring to resolutions passed by the Assembly in 2000 and 2024. The reference to the earlier resolutions has been a major point of objection for the BJP.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the BJP supported restoration of statehood but objected to the language and references incorporated into the resolution. He argued that the House should focus on statehood within the constitutional framework and criticised the inclusion of the 2000 autonomy resolution.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary responded by questioning the argument that the border situation should delay the restoration of statehood and referred to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s earlier commitment on the issue. His remarks were followed by further uproar, with BJP members moving into the Well and beginning their sit-in.
The developments came on a day of heightened tension in the Assembly, with the BJP also submitting a no-confidence motion against Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather. The Speaker said the notice would be listed and processed according to the rules and procedure of the House.
The Assembly’s official records show that the current session is considering the statehood resolution moved by Abdullah on September 25, with amendments to the resolution also listed before the House.
The confrontation has added to a series of disruptions during the ongoing session, as the BJP and ruling National Conference-led benches remain divided over the scope and language of the statehood resolution.
