Uproar erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly when BJP MLAs pushed for a National Law University in Jammu, while NC and PDP members highlighted attacks on Kashmiris outside the union territory. The session was marked by noisy debates between opposition and ruling party legislators.
Despite the chaos, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather proceeded with the Question Hour and rejected the adjournment motion by PDP MLA Wahid-ur-Rehman Para regarding “hate crime” incidents against Kashmiris in other parts of the country. BJP MLA Surjit Singh Slathia advocated for a law university in Jammu, emphasizing the students’ demand for a National Law University.
As the Assembly session commenced, BJP MLAs, including Slathia, displayed placards and chanted slogans supporting the call for “NLU for Jammu.” Congress legislator Nizam-ud-Din Bhat criticized the placard display, citing the need to maintain decorum during discussions. Meanwhile, NC MLA Mubarak Gul raised concerns about the harassment faced by Kashmiri students and traders elsewhere in India.
NC MLA Saifullah Mir highlighted the challenges faced by Kashmiris residing outside the union territory, alleging restrictions on their movements and incidents of assault. The Speaker urged members to uphold decorum and address issues appropriately without disrupting proceedings. He commended the J&K government’s efforts in addressing harassment cases and acknowledged the Uttarakhand chief minister’s prompt action in a recent incident.
NC MLAs staged a protest outside the House against attacks on Kashmiris and advocated for the restoration of statehood.
