Chaos in house as Waheed Parra submits resolution for Article 370 restoration

Srinagar, Nov 4: The first session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, which commenced on Monday after a gap of six years, witnessed chaos after People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para moved a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and called for restoring J&K’s special status.

Para, who represents the Pulwama Assembly seat, submitted the resolution to the newly-elected Speaker, Abdul Rahim Rather and requested a discussion on the matter during the five-day session, despite not being a part of the agenda.

“Although the agenda of the House has been finalised, we believe that your authority as the Speaker allows the inclusion of the resolution, as it reflects the sentiment of the people at large,” it said.

His words that mentioned the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5th, 2019 created chaos in the House. All BJP MLAs, who are 28, vocally reacted against this move and sought Para to be taken immediately.

“This resolution is about dignity, identity, and the restoration of our people’s constitutional rights. It’s essential for the future of Jammu and Kashmir,” Parra said in his address but was not allowed to continue by the opposition.

The first to respond was BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma and his party colleagues when they said that Parra’s resolution was against the rules and regulations of the assembly.

Sharma demanded the suspension of Parra.

“Para is using the House for a divisive agenda. This is not the forum to disrupt the sanctity of our legislative process with calls for reversing Article 370,” Sharma said.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather tried to regain control of the house, calling on protesting members to return to their seats time and again.

He clarified that the resolution had not reached him officially yet.

“The resolution has to be examined by the chair,” Rather said, maintaining that he would take a decision in due course.

His appeals went in vain as BJP members continued with their objections.

Shabir Kullay of the NC rushed into the well, raising his voice against BJP demands.

“This is the people's voice,” he said. “A great deal of Kashmiris have not reconciled with the 2019 decision.”

Intervening during the chaos, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said, “We had thought that someone would raise a resolution but we expected it after formal proceedings such as the election of the Speaker, address by Lieutenant Governor, and references on obituary notices.”

He said that though the issue of Article 370’s revocation could not be ignored, the right way to address it was by consulting the Speaker and the legislative framework.

The CM proposed a more formal discussion on the matter in the coming days, indicating that the NC and other parties might pursue a broader legislative effort to bring the issue on record.

This dialogue changed into a verbal clash and many from the NC, PDP, People’s Conference (PC), and the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) voiced out their positions with shrill shouts.

After some time as people began to yell, the Speaker rebuked the newcomers and informed them that the rulebook had to be strictly followed.

“I request the new members to know the rules. You are breaking them on your very first day. I will not let it, mind it,” he said, in a desperate attempt to reassert order as the tension increased.