Srinagar, Sep 28 (KINS): Proceedings in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly were disrupted on Monday after BJP MLA R.S. Pathania raised a motion seeking the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, alleging that the Speaker had allowed a resolution on statehood that contains a reference to the 2000 autonomy resolution.
Pathania said he had moved a motion against the Speaker, arguing that he should not continue in the chair after the motion was moved.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma said the BJP supports the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir but objected to the reference to the 2000 autonomy resolution and the pre-1953 position.
“We are in favour of statehood, but the language used in the resolution is against the Constitution of India. It is unacceptable,” Sharma said in the House.
Responding to Pathania, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said he had not received the motion in the manner required under the Assembly rules. He said a written notice has to be submitted to the Assembly Secretariat and, upon receipt, the motion is to be entered in the business fixed by the Speaker after the prescribed period.
Rather also questioned Pathania’s understanding of the constitutional procedure, saying the BJP MLA, being a practising lawyer, had not properly read the relevant constitutional provisions.
As the exchanges continued, the Speaker asked Sharma to address the issue concerning the resolution after Question Hour.
The BJP MLAs then entered the well of the House in protest and raised slogans including “Kursi chodo, kursi chodo, Speaker saab kursi chodo” and “Vande Mataram”, leading to a noisy start to Monday’s proceedings.
The controversy centres on the statehood resolution introduced by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, which included a reference to the autonomy resolution passed by the then National Conference government in 2000.(KINS)
BJP seeks Speaker’s removal over Statehood resolution, sparks ruckus in J&K Assembly
