Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 29
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was disrupted on Tuesday over a resolution seeking restoration of full statehood, with the BJP demanding the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather and later walking out of the House.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the BJP had moved a motion seeking Rather’s removal for allowing the statehood resolution to be taken up and passed.
BJP lawmakers alleged the resolution had been admitted despite objections from the Law Department. Sharma said the department had described it as unconstitutional.
Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and Law Secretary Achal Sethi had separately written to the Assembly secretariat seeking that the statehood resolution not be taken up, according to the account placed before the House.
Rather rejected the criticism and told members he was aware of his powers and the procedure governing a motion for his removal.
The Speaker said the motion could be listed only after 14 days under Rule 215 of the Assembly rules.
The exchange triggered sloganeering from both treasury and opposition benches. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary urged BJP members to debate the statehood resolution rather than disrupt proceedings.
BJP legislators later walked out as Question Hour began before returning to the House.
During Zero Hour, BJP MLA P K Gupta disputed remarks by Education Minister Sakina Itoo concerning the BJP’s position on the Assembly’s 2000 autonomy resolution.
Itoo called on BJP members to apologise to the Speaker over language used during Monday’s proceedings.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah then intervened, saying his father, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, had asked him to correct the record. Omar said former MLA Shiv Charan Gupta had walked out during the 2000 autonomy resolution vote but had not voted against it.
