A chaotic scene unfolded in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday when Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, the MLA from Langate and brother of jailed Lok Sabha MP Engineer Rashid, raised a banner demanding the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A. The protest led to a physical altercation among lawmakers, with heated exchanges and a scuffle breaking out in the Assembly.

The banner, “We demand the restoration of Article 370 and 35A. Release of political prisoners,” was displayed by Sheikh, a member of the Awami Ittehad Party. Sheikh stormed into the well of the House, prompting objections from the Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma of the BJP, as marshals attempted to intervene and prevent him from standing in the Assembly.

Despite the Speaker’s instructions to take his seat, Sheikh refused, holding the banner aloft. Tensions rose as BJP leaders attempted to snatch the banner, resulting in a fistfight. PDP MLA Waheed Para from Pulwama was seen stepping in to support Sheikh and protect him from the escalating altercation.

In response to the incident, opposition MLAs, including Sajad Lone from the People’s Conference, introduced a resolution condemning Articles 370 and 35A revocation. The resolution criticized the Indian government’s actions and called them unconstitutional, asserting that the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019 undermined the region’s special status and statehood.

The resolution read, “This House strongly condemns the unconstitutional and unilateral abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A, along with the enactment of the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. These actions stripped Jammu & Kashmir of its special status and statehood, undermining the foundational guarantees and protections originally accorded to the region and its people by the Constitution of India.”

The resolution further demanded the immediate restoration of both Articles 370 and 35A in their original form and the reversal of the changes introduced by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act. It urged the government to honour the region’s unique identity, culture, and political autonomy.

“The House unequivocally demands the immediate restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A in their original, unaltered form and calls for reversing all changes introduced by the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. We further urge the Government of India to respect the constitutional and democratic sanctity of Jammu & Kashmir by reinstating all special provisions and guarantees intended to preserve its distinct identity, culture, and political autonomy,” the resolution stated.

The incident highlighted the ongoing tensions in Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 and the reorganization of the state, with political leaders from both sides continuing to clash over the region’s future.