Archive · 28 Sep 2026
BJP Protests J&K Statehood Resolution, Seeks Speaker’s Removal
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly had a very disorderly meeting on Monday.
The BJP said it had submitted a request to remove Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
The Speaker said the request could not be discussed during Question Hour and had to follow the Assembly’s voting rules.
BJP lawmakers protested by entering the well, shouting slogans, tearing papers, and holding mock proceedings.
The disagreement was connected to a resolution calling for Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood to be restored.
The BJP said it supports statehood but objected to references to autonomy, Article 370, and the pre-1953 political position.
Those references include mention of the 2000 Autonomy Resolution.
The Deputy Chief Minister defended the resolution and asked why the Centre had not yet restored statehood.
The two sides also disagreed over how quickly the Speaker’s removal motion should be considered.
The BJP submitted a notice seeking the removal of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
Rather said the motion had to be listed for a vote under Assembly procedure and could not be taken up during Question Hour.
BJP MLAs entered the well, raised slogans, tore business papers, and conducted mock proceedings in protest.
The BJP said it supports restoring statehood but rejects references to Article 370, autonomy, and the pre-1953 position.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary defended the statehood resolution and questioned why the Centre’s promised restoration had not occurred.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s government, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary, and BJP leader Sunil Sharma.
- What
- The BJP sought the Speaker’s removal and disrupted proceedings while opposing parts of a resolution seeking restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
- When
- Monday, during the Assembly’s Autumn Session; the statehood resolution had been moved on Friday.
- Where
- The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly in Srinagar.
- Why
- The BJP said the resolution’s references to autonomy, Article 370, the pre-1953 position, and the 2000 Autonomy Resolution were unacceptable and contrary to the Constitution’s spirit.
BJP Position
Government and Assembly Position
Statehood resolution
BJP Position
The BJP supports restoring statehood but says the resolution is constitutionally unacceptable because it refers to autonomy, Article 370, and the pre-1953 position.
Government and Assembly Position
The government defended the resolution as a call for urgent restoration of statehood and questioned why the Centre’s stated promise had not been fulfilled.
References to earlier resolutions
BJP Position
The BJP objected to mentioning the 2000 Autonomy Resolution, saying autonomy and related issues should not be brought back for discussion.
Government and Assembly Position
The resolution introduced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah includes references to earlier Assembly resolutions as part of its wording.
Speaker removal motion
BJP Position
The BJP sought action against Abdul Rahim Rather for allowing the statehood resolution and protested against delays in considering its motion.
Government and Assembly Position
Rather said the motion had to follow Assembly procedure, be listed for a vote, and could not be taken up during Question Hour; he cited a 14-day requirement.
- Speaker
- Abdul Rahim Rather
- BJP notice
- R.S. Pathania said the party submitted a motion seeking Rather’s removal.
- Procedural dispute
- Rather said the motion required listing for a vote and could not be taken up during Question Hour; he also cited a rule requiring 14 days after submission.
- BJP position
- The party supports restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood but opposes discussion of Article 370, autonomy, and the pre-1953 position.
- Protest actions
- BJP MLAs entered the well, raised slogans, tore business papers, and conducted mock proceedings.
- Disputed reference
- The statehood resolution refers to earlier Assembly resolutions, including the 2000 Autonomy Resolution.
- Government response
- Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary asked what had happened to the Centre’s promise to restore statehood.
