Jammu and Kashmir Assembly erupts in chaos over Article 370 debate; fistfights, banners raised

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was thrown into disarray on Thursday after a tense confrontation between lawmakers, culminating in a physical altercation, following the display of a banner related to Article 370 by Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, the brother of jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid.

Sheikh, an MLA of the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP) representing the Langate constituency, sparked the chaos during the ongoing legislative session by displaying the banner, which was promptly objected to by BJP leader Sunil Sharma, the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

The situation rapidly escalated, with verbal exchanges turning heated, and eventually, a fistfight broke out between members. In light of the disorder, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather was forced to adjourn the proceedings briefly to restore order.

This incident marks the second day of significant unrest in the Assembly, which is currently holding its first session after a six-year hiatus. The session, which began on Monday, has already been marred by controversy surrounding the status of Article 370, a provision in the Indian Constitution that granted Jammu and Kashmir special autonomy. 

The chaos erupted on the first day of the session when PDP MLA Waheed Para introduced a resolution opposing the abrogation of Article 370 and called for the restoration of the region's special status. On Wednesday, the Assembly passed a resolution demanding that the Centre devise a constitutional mechanism to reinstate the special status of the erstwhile state. 

While the resolution was hailed by valley-based parties, it was met with fierce opposition from the BJP, which called for its immediate rollback. This led to protests, frequent disruptions, and heated exchanges throughout the proceedings. The resolution, which expressed concern over the "unilateral removal" of the region’s special status, was passed without any debate as the Speaker called for a voice vote amidst the uproar.

Article 370 had granted Jammu and Kashmir its own constitution, flag, and a significant degree of autonomy, except in matters of defense, communications, and foreign affairs. However, on August 5, 2019, the central government revoked Article 370, effectively stripping the region of its special status and reorganizing it into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.