Ruckus in J&K Assembly over Statehood resolution

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BJP Legislative members protest during the Autumn session of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, in Srinagar, September 25, 2026. | Photo Credit: Imran Nissar

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly descended into chaos on Monday (September 28, 2026) as BJP members protesting a resolution seeking urgent restoration of Statehood jumped into the well of the House, tore business papers, and conducted mock proceedings.

The Opposition party moved a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather for allowing the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday (September 25, 2026) in contravention of rules. BJP MLA R. S. Pathania said Mr. Rather to step aside till the motion is decided in the house.

Citing Rule 215(2), Mr. Pathania said 23 MLAs have stood in support of the motion. However, the Speaker said the motion will come in the list of business after 14 days, and proceeded with the Question Hour.

The BJP members, opposing the Speaker’s presence, jumped into the well of the House. Some party MLAs tore the business papers of the House and raised slogans.

BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma began conducting mock proceedings in the well of the House. Several MLAs sat on the floor during the mock proceedings.

Minister Sakina Ittoo hit out at the BJP members, saying they were "only doing drama for galleries".

The BJP said the reference to autonomy and special status in the resolution was an insult to the Constitution and that the party would not allow a discussion on it or its passage in the House.

"J&K is a sensitive State and we have enemies around. They are hatching conspiracies. We don't want to oppose for the sake of opposition. We want Statehood to be restored. It is our agenda. But the kind of resolution they have brought is in violation of the Constitution and is unacceptable," Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chaudhary asked what happened to the Centre's promise of restoring J&K's Statehood.

"Are we going to give up Statehood? What is wrong with the resolution for Statehood? The Home Minister has promised on the floor of the Parliament that Statehood will be restored. They promised before the highest court of the country. What happened to those promises? Two years have passed since," he said.

Mr. Chaudhary then urged Speaker Rather to put the motion moved against him by the BJP to vote.

"Why wait for 14 days?" he said, referring to Mr. Rather citing a rule that states that a motion for the removal of the Speaker can only be taken up 14 days after its submission.

Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma said the resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on the restoration of Statehood was a “violation” of the Constitution and will not be allowed.

He also asserted that Statehood will happen as it is the BJP’s agenda and that the National Conference (NC) wants to “sabotage” it by forcefully inserting its own agenda. Speaking to reporters before the Assembly proceedings in Srinagar, Mr. Sharma said the talk of bringing back Article 370 or ‘double flag’ and ‘double constitution’ is an insult to the Constitution of the country.

Mr. Sharma claimed that the Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed “serious displeasure”, stating that discussions about Article 370 or pre-1953 status “no longer have any place in Jammu and Kashmir’s politics”.

The BJP leader said his party is ready to discuss the issue of Statehood, but, “this is abusive at this point”. “How can you talk about a dual flag or dual Constitution? This is derogatory — it is abusive toward the Constitution of India and contrary to its fundamental spirit”.

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