Srinagar, Sep 22 (IANS): The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday in protest against the remarks by ruling National Conference (NC) MLAs over the holiday declared on the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
The Assembly witnessed pandemonium after NC MLA Abdul Majid Larmi remarked that the government should either restore the holiday on the birth anniversary of Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah or cancel the holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday.
As soon as proceedings began, Larmi’s comments sparked strong protests from BJP lawmakers, who accused the NC of attempting to disrupt the functioning of the House.
“The ruling party is trying to disrupt proceedings. How can they talk about cancelling a holiday?” BJP’s RS Pathania asked.
BJP legislators also raised slogans in favour of Maharaja Hari Singh. “Maharaja Hari Singh Amar Rahe, Maharaja Hari Singh Amar Rahe,” BJP’s Devyani Rana shouted.
Amid din, NC legislators Mubarak Gul and Shamima Firdous vociferously demanded restoration of the holiday on Sheikh Abdullah’s birthday.
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed Para also supported the demand, terming it legitimate, and pressed for the restoration of the Martyrs’ Day holiday.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather admonished the protesting BJP lawmakers, warning that such disruptions would not be allowed. “The House has to run as per procedure. You cannot do this,” he told them.
Later, BJP legislators staged a walkout from the House.
Earlier, ruling NC members demanded restoration of holidays in J&K on Marryrs Day (July 13) and Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary (December 5). Both these public holidays were taken off the government list of holidays after August 5, 2019, when Article 370 was abrogated, and J&K was downgraded into a union territory.
Instead, the birth anniversary of late Maharaja Hari Singh on September 23 was declared a public holiday in J&K after 2019.
