‘Throw them out’: What led to scuffle between BJP MLAs, marshals in Jammu and Kashmir assembly?

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed high drama as tensions escalated into a physical confrontation on November 7. Here’s a breakdown of what happened in 10 key points:

1. Brawl Erupts: A chaotic brawl broke out between BJP MLAs and assembly marshals after the Speaker ordered the eviction of opposition members who stormed the well during a protest over the special status resolution.
2. Protest Sparks Tensions: The opposition protest, led by BJP MLAs, was triggered by a resolution calling for the restoration of J&K’s special status under Article 370. This resolution was tabled by the ruling National Conference (NC) and had already passed.
3. Speaker’s Order: Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather ordered marshals to evict BJP members as tensions rose, leading to direct confrontations between the BJP members and assembly marshals.
4. Sunil Sharma’s Speech Disrupted: BJP Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, was interrupted by protests from NC members as he voiced strong opposition to the special status resolution, intensifying the already volatile scene.
5. Banner in the Well: Sheikh Khursheed, an Awami Ittehad Party leader and MLA from Langate, entered the well with a banner demanding the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A. This act inflamed the BJP MLAs, who tore down the banner, sparking a brief physical clash.
6. Adjournment Attempt: The Speaker attempted to bring order by adjourning the session for 15 minutes, but BJP members continued their protest even after the adjournment.
7. Sloganeering Intensifies: Both sides engaged in loud sloganeering. BJP members chanted, “Balidaan huway jahan Mukherjee woh Kashmir hamara hai,” while NC members countered with “Jis Kashmir ko khoon say seencha, woh Kashmir hamara hai.”
8. Speaker’s Directive on Recording: The Speaker instructed that nothing should be recorded or reported from the proceedings, further directing the marshals to forcibly remove protesting BJP members.
9. Female Marshals Called: The lone BJP woman MLA, Shagun Parihar, climbed onto a table in protest, prompting the Speaker to call in female marshals to handle her removal from the chamber.
10. Eviction and Slogans Continue: Three BJP MLAs were ultimately marshalled out amid loud slogans from both sides. Treasury benches thumped their tables, while NC members raised “Jammu Kashmir ki awaaz kya, (Article) 370 aur kya,” and BJP MLAs countered with “Bharat Mata ki Jai.”

The session ended in chaos, reflecting deep divides over the issue of Article 370 and the region’s special status.