BJP MLAs protest over power tariff hike, daily wagers’ issues, storm into Well; NC, Cong counter with statehood slogans
Srinagar, Sep 21: The autumn session of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly began on Monday with noisy scenes as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators staged protests over power tariff hike and the regularization of daily‑wagers.
As soon as the Speaker read the obituary references, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), BJP lawmakers led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Kumar Sharma stood up and raised slogans demanding justice for daily‑wagers and National Health Mission (NHM) employees. They also protested against the recent hike in power tariff.
Shouting slogans such as “Jo Sarkar Na De Sakhe Bijli Pani, Woh Sarkar Nakami” (A government that fails to provide power and water is incompetent), “Insaf Karo, Daily‑wagers Ke Sath” (Do justice with daily‑wagers), and “Insaf Karo, NHM Employees Ke Sath” (Do justice with NHM employees), the BJP legislators disrupted proceedings.
Despite the protests, ministers continued replying to questions raised by other lawmakers. Amid the din, BJP legislators shouted “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” slogans. Congress legislators Irfan Hafiz Lone and Iftikhar Ahmad attempted to counter them, though their exchanges could not be clearly heard. CPI(M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami also intervened, urging BJP members to raise slogans about the non‑restoration of statehood. “Another slogan should be raised here that despite two years of an elected government having taken over, statehood has not been restored,” Tarigami told the BJP lawmakers.
Soon, BJP legislators stormed into the Well of the House, resorting to massive anti‑government sloganeering. Congress MLAs Irfan Hafiz Lone and Iftikhar Ahmad, along with MLA Shopian Shabir Kulley and MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed, attempted to enter the Well but were prevented by marshals.
National Conference (NC) MLAs also stood up, raising slogans demanding the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s statehood.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather repeatedly appealed to the protesting lawmakers to return to their seats and warned them of action. “Go to your seats,” he urged, but BJP legislators remained in the Well and continued their sloganeering.
Amid the uproar, NC’s Nazir Gurezi accused BJP leaders of wasting the House’s time to hide their incompetence. “They should protest in Delhi rather than here,” he told the Speaker. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary alleged that the BJP did not want the government to resolve issues confronting the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
As commotion continued, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day. (KNO)
