Marshals Remove BJP Legislators from J&K Assembly Amidst Growing Tensions

On November 8, the fifth day of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly session was marked by escalating tensions and heated confrontations. A fierce debate over the proposal to reinstate Article 370 once again led to significant disruption in the Assembly. Marshals had to intervene and remove Awami Ittihad Party MLA Khursheed Sheikh, brother of Engineer Rashid, from the session. The BJP has consistently opposed the proposal for Article 370’s reinstatement. Shortly after the session began, protests broke out, with BJP legislators raising slogans against the PDP and the Speaker. A similar scene had played out the previous day, with intense clashes erupting between BJP legislators on one side and lawmakers from the National Conference and Congress on the other, leading to a near physical altercation as members grabbed each other’s collars. Lengate MLA Khursheed Ahmad Sheikh held up a banner in the Assembly demanding the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A, as well as the release of all political prisoners. BJP legislators, led by opposition leader Sunil Sharma, objected to this, chanting slogans and eventually approaching Sheikh to forcibly remove the banner. This provoked further clashes, as Sajjad Lone, Waheed Para, and several National Conference legislators rallied to Sheikh’s support, resulting in another heated confrontation with BJP members.