Srinagar: Proceedings in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed a fresh uproar on Tuesday after Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma again sought the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather over the statehood resolution passed by the House a day earlier.
Raising the issue at the outset of the proceedings, Sharma questioned the legality and procedure followed in bringing the resolution before the Assembly and alleged that the Speaker had allowed an “illegal and unconstitutional” resolution to proceed despite objections.
Sharma argued that the Speaker should take responsibility for permitting the resolution to be introduced and discussed despite concerns raised by the Law Department. He also referred to remarks made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying they had further raised questions over the procedure adopted.
The demand triggered a confrontation between the opposition and treasury benches, with National Conference members raising “Vote Chor” slogans during the exchange.
Responding to the objections, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather asserted his authority, saying he knew his powers.
The BJP has been opposing references to the 2000 autonomy resolution and the 2024 special-status resolution in the statehood resolution, while maintaining that it supports restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Later, BJP legislators staged a walkout from the Assembly in protest against the Speaker’s decision to allow discussion on the statehood resolution.
The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, was passed on Monday amid protests by BJP members.
The latest confrontation has brought the dispute over the resolution’s contents and legislative procedure to the centre of Assembly proceedings, with the BJP continuing to challenge the Speaker’s handling of the matter while the ruling benches defend the proceedings.
