The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed fresh disruptions on Monday after BJP legislators opposed a resolution seeking the restoration of full statehood and moved a notice seeking the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
The BJP objected to the resolution introduced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on September 25, particularly its reference to earlier Assembly resolutions on autonomy and constitutional arrangements. The party argued that the House should not deliberate on matters connected with the constitutional changes made in 2019.
BJP Moves Notice Against Speaker
BJP MLA R S Pathania informed the Assembly that the party had submitted a motion seeking Rather’s removal from the Speaker’s chair.
According to the BJP, the Speaker allowed Omar Abdullah’s statehood resolution despite what it described as procedural and constitutional concerns. Pathania also argued that the Speaker should not continue presiding over the House while the removal motion was pending.
The notice was submitted under Section 19(2)(c) of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, read with Rule 215 of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.
Speaker Cites 14-Day Procedure
Rather rejected the BJP’s demand that he immediately vacate the chair.
The Speaker said that, under the Assembly’s procedure, a motion for his removal would have to be included in the list of business and could be taken up after the required 14-day notice period.
Rather also rejected the argument that earlier parliamentary precedents required him to step aside immediately. He said those precedents involved a different procedural stage and did not apply to the situation before the J&K Assembly.
BJP Protests During Question Hour
The dispute soon disrupted proceedings.
BJP legislators entered the Well of the House and raised slogans demanding that the Speaker leave the chair. The protests continued as Rather attempted to proceed with Question Hour.
According to reports, the BJP members also conducted a parallel discussion on the Assembly floor while opposing the Speaker’s ruling. The disruption affected the normal proceedings of the House.
Omar Abdullah’s Statehood Resolution
The confrontation stems from a resolution moved by Omar Abdullah on September 25.
The resolution calls upon the Government of India to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. It also states that the new resolution is in addition to resolutions passed by the Assembly on June 26, 2000, and November 6, 2024.
The reference to the 2000 resolution became a major point of disagreement between the ruling National Conference and BJP legislators.
That earlier resolution dealt with greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir when the region was still a state.
BJP Objects to Autonomy Reference
The BJP has argued that references to the earlier autonomy resolution should not form part of the new statehood resolution.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the party supports restoration of statehood but opposes discussion of the pre-1953 political arrangement or autonomy-related issues.
BJP legislators have also argued that the Assembly cannot revisit constitutional changes enacted by Parliament in 2019.
Omar Abdullah Defends the Resolution
Omar Abdullah has maintained that the latest resolution is specifically aimed at restoring full statehood.
While introducing it, he explained that the references to the 2000 and 2024 resolutions were included to place the latest demand within the Assembly’s previous resolutions.
He also said the new resolution does not replace or absorb the earlier resolutions. Instead, according to Abdullah, it calls on the Union government to fulfil its commitment to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Government and BJP Clash Over Assembly’s Role
The dispute has also raised questions about the powers and role of the J&K Assembly.
BJP legislators have argued that the Assembly should not discuss issues that they say fall beyond its constitutional jurisdiction. The ruling side, meanwhile, has defended the House’s right to pass resolutions expressing its position on restoration of statehood.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary has also questioned the BJP’s objections to the statehood demand. He referred to earlier assurances from the Union government regarding restoration of statehood.
Political Tensions Continue in Autumn Session
The latest confrontation is part of a series of disruptions during the ongoing autumn session of the J&K Assembly.
The session began with protests by BJP members over various issues concerning the Omar Abdullah government. The ruling National Conference and Congress have meanwhile continued to raise the demand for restoration of statehood.
The dispute over the statehood resolution has now added another major point of confrontation between the government benches and the BJP.
What Happens to the Removal Motion
Under the procedure cited by the Speaker, the BJP’s motion will not be taken up immediately.
Rather said the notice would be placed in the list of business after the mandatory 14-day period. The Assembly will therefore have to follow the prescribed procedure before members can formally consider the motion.
Meanwhile, the statehood resolution and the BJP’s objections remain at the centre of the Assembly’s ongoing political debate.
The developments have created a fresh confrontation over the restoration of J&K’s statehood, the scope of Assembly resolutions and the procedural role of the Speaker.