 Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 8: In a show of defiance against the ruling National Conference’s attempt to silence opposition voices, the BJP staged a parallel assembly session on the premises of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Srinagar on Friday. The protest came after half of the BJP members were forcibly removed from the Assembly, while the remaining members walked out in opposition to a resolution advocating special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
Following their expulsion, all 28 BJP MLAs gathered on the Assembly’s lawn to conduct a mock session, symbolizing their continued resistance. Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, accused Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather of partiality, alleging that Rather, in drafting the resolution on special status, had acted like a National Conference member rather than a neutral Speaker. "It’s unfortunate to see the Speaker acting as an extension of the ruling party," Sharma remarked, adding that Assembly marshals had mishandled BJP MLAs to intimidate them. "Today will be remembered as a dark day for Jammu and Kashmir’s democratic traditions, with the Speaker consistently working to suppress the opposition," Sharma said.
During the mock session, BJP leader and former Minister Sham Lal Sharma presided as “Speaker of the House.” Sitting on a chair in the Assembly lawn, Sham Lal led the session as other BJP MLAs took turns speaking, as if a genuine Assembly meeting were taking place. "The NC wants to reignite turmoil in Kashmir, and I thank Speaker Abdur Rahim Rather for giving us the motivation to hold this real Assembly," he stated with sarcasm.
Sham Lal then invited BJP MLA R.S. Pathania to address the group. Pathania criticized the process, noting that a 15-day notice should precede any resolution, yet they were presented with one for special status rather than the LG’s address, as expected. Each BJP MLA voiced their concerns, creating the image of a legitimate Assembly session operating in parallel with the official House proceedings inside. |
