Avinash Azad
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Monday after Congress MLA from Bandipora, Nizam-ud-din Bhat, called protesting BJP legislators “hysteria patients” while defending Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s resolution seeking the restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory.
Bhat said the BJP members were creating unnecessary uproar instead of raising their concerns in a constructive manner. “Those who lack the moral strength to face an argument often become victims of hysteria. Instead of wasting time in the House and creating a nuisance, they should go and tell Modi sahib and Amit Shah sahib that they have made a false promise before the Supreme Court,” Bhat said.
He added, “If they listen to you, ask them to keep their promise and restore the dignity of Jammu and Kashmir. They (BJP MLAs) have attacked me in this House, and they are running the entire country through aggression and atrocities.”
The Congress legislator was speaking in support of Abdullah’s resolution, which calls upon the Government of India to restore full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. The situation became tense when a BJP MLA from Jammu West Arvind Gupta, snatched papers from Bhat while he was addressing the House. Bhat then moved towards the Well, where BJP members were staging a protest.
The incident led to further uproar, with members from both sides shouting slogans and accusing each other of violating the dignity of the Assembly. The Speaker intervened to restore order as the BJP continued to oppose references to autonomy and Jammu and Kashmir’s pre-August 5, 2019 constitutional status.
The BJP has said it supports the restoration of statehood but objects to the language of the resolution and its references to earlier autonomy-related resolutions. Congress members also raised the issue of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar inside the House. Congress MLA from Rajouri, Iftikhar Ahmad, displayed a poster demanding action against Kumar.
The protest followed allegations and political controversy surrounding the Election Commission (EC). Congress members have previously raised slogans such as “Protect the vote, protect democracy” and demanded the CEC’s resignation. Congress MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone of the Wagoora–Kreeri constituency also joined the protest. Holding a copy of the Constitution of India, he confronted BJP legislators in a gesture reminiscent of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent style of protest. The Speaker had earlier objected to legislators bringing banners and posters into the House and asked them to return to their seats. Despite the Speaker’s intervention, the proceedings remained noisy for a considerable period.
