Srinagar: BJP legislators walked out of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday as tensions continued over the resolution seeking restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory.
The walkout followed renewed objections from Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who questioned Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather’s decision to allow discussion on the resolution. Sharma also sought the Speaker’s removal, alleging that the resolution had been allowed despite objections concerning its contents and procedure.
The BJP has particularly objected to references in the resolution to the 2000 autonomy resolution and the 2024 special status resolution. The party has maintained that it supports restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir but has raised objections to the wording and references included in the resolution.
The issue led to heated exchanges between opposition and treasury-bench members inside the House. As the arguments continued, BJP members raised slogans before eventually leaving the Assembly when the Speaker proceeded with Question Hour.
The statehood resolution, moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was passed by the Assembly on Monday through a voice vote amid protests from BJP members. It seeks the immediate restoration of full statehood and calls for the resolution to be forwarded to the Government of India for necessary action.
The BJP’s objections and the government’s position have since remained at the centre of the Assembly proceedings, with the dispute also extending to the Speaker’s handling of the resolution.
The latest confrontation highlights the continuing political disagreement in the Assembly over the wording, procedure and handling of the statehood resolution.
