The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed intense political drama on Monday as BJP legislators protested in the Well of the House, demanding the withdrawal of the statehood resolution and raising a notice seeking the removal of Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
BJP MLA R.S. Pathania formally conveyed the party’s notice to Rather during the ongoing autumn session. The move came amid continued opposition from the BJP to the statehood resolution moved by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on September 25. The resolution states: “In addition to the resolutions passed by this House on 26 June 2000 and 6 November 2024, the House calls upon the Government of India for the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and resolves that this resolution be forwarded to the Government of India. The BJP strongly objected to the reference to the June 26, 2000, autonomy resolution passed during the Farooq Abdullah-led National Conference government. That resolution had sought greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir and a return to the pre-1953 constitutional position. Earlier reporting noted: J&K Assembly passes statehood resolution with references to autonomy, Article 370; BJP walks out The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Monday passed chief minister Omar Abdullah’s resolution seeking restoration of statehood, with references to autonomy and special status, after a prolonged debate in the House.
Pathania said the party had submitted the notice seeking the Speaker’s removal and questioned Rather’s continuation in the chair after the notice was moved. The Speaker, however, said the matter would be dealt with according to the prescribed rules. Earlier reporting noted: Congress leader Nizamuddin accused the BJP of “jingoism” and “subverting the Constitution” during the debate. He said that if the BJP believed in morality and was a “friend of Jammu and Kashmir”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah would have fulfilled their promise regarding the restoration of statehood.
Earlier reporting noted: The political flashpoint stems from a controversial resolution moved by the ruling National Conference (NC)-led government calling upon the Union government to restore full statehood and constitutional guarantees while referencing earlier assembly declarations on autonomy and special status.
The notice is therefore a formal step towards seeking the Speaker’s removal and does not itself remove him from office. The Speaker said that under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, leave for such a motion can be considered only after the prescribed notice period, which is generally 14 days. Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma said the BJP supports restoration of statehood but does not support bringing issues related to the pre-1953 position into the discussion. The 2000 autonomy resolution had been rejected by the Union Cabinet at the time. The BJP has maintained that the abrogation of Article 370 settled the issue and has opposed any move to reopen questions relating to autonomy.
Responding to the notice, Rather said it would be listed in the business of the House and dealt with according to the Assembly’s rules and procedure. He told Pathania, “You are a good advocate, but don’t know the rules.
