>>Parra doing it for camera: CM
>>It was 5 vs 85: Sajad
By: Sameer Showkin Lone
Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on the first day of its session witnessed uneasy scenes soon after PDP legislator from Pulwama Waheed-U-Rehman Para introduced a resolution on behalf of his party, calling for the restoration of Article 370.
The article previously granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir before its revocation in 2019.
In his maiden speech, Para while congratulating the newly elected Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, said, “Sir, I have a resolution on behalf of my party that I want to submit. The resolution calls for the restoration of Article 370,” he said.
Supported by his fellow party legislators from Tral and Kupwara and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, the proposal created an uproar among BJP MLAs, who urged the Speaker to reject the resolution outright.
However, the Speaker Rather sought to maintain order, responding that it was his domain to and deciding on the resolution accordingly.
While the ruckus continued, NC MLA’s too joined the chorus. The NC MLA from Pahalgam stood up and made lewd gestures towards the legislators who brought the resolution on restoration of “special status in its original and pristine form”.
The BJP Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma as per ANB, said this was not done to introduce such kind of stuff on the very first day.
Meanwhile, J&K Peoples Conference Chairman and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone reiterated his commitment to the restoration of Article 370. Reacting to the remarks of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lone said it was “5 versus 85” in the Assembly acknowledging the substantial opposition.
The Speaker reiterated that he would examine the resolution. “If you (BJP) have decided not to allow this house to run, then I can’t say anything,” Rather added.
Meanwhile PDP President Mehbooba Mufti congratulated Waheed Para for introducing the resolution and termed it a “courageous step” towards restoring the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.