Restoration of special status takes center stage in IIOJK Assembly as Article 370 banner displayed
Srinagar: The debate over the restoration of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s special status dominated the assembly proceedings on Thursday when Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, brother of jailed MP Engineer Rashid and an MLA from the Awami Ittehad Party, displayed a banner demanding the reinstatement of Article 370.
According to Kashmir Media Service, opposition BJP members vocally opposed the move, leading to heated exchanges and briefly halting the session.
The turmoil unfolded amid a rare five-day session of the IIOJK Assembly, held after a six-year hiatus, during which the assembly passed a resolution urging the Indian government to to restore the special status of the territory. The resolution, passed on Wednesday, called for the reinstatement of Article 370, which had previously granted IIOJK a special status.
As BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma spoke in opposition to the resolution, Khurshid Sheikh entered the well of the House with the banner. BJP members promptly seized it, sparking further disorder. Amid the uproar, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the session temporarily to restore order.
In a related move, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) introduced a new resolution on Thursday, reiterating the call for the restoration of both Articles 370 and 35A.
