BJP threatens setting up parallel government in J&K
What's the story
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) threatened to form a parallel government in Jammu and Kashmir if Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather continues with actions, which it claims, threaten the "nation's sovereignty and integrity."
This comes as the J&K Assembly witnessed unabated chaos for the third consecutive day on Friday over a contentious resolution demanding immediate restoration of J&K's special status.
The resolution was introduced by Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) and backed by other regional parties.
Assembly unrest
BJP labels resolution 'illegal,' stages walkout
Opposing the resolution, the BJP called it "illegal," demanded its withdrawal and staged a walk out.
Sunil Sharma, Leader of Opposition in the assembly, slammed Rather's conduct.
"We condemn it. This will be the darkest day in the history of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly," he said.
He accused Rather of acting as an agent for a particular party and performing unconstitutional acts.
Parallel threat
Sharma warns of parallel government, criticizes NC
Sharma further warned that if Speaker Rather's behavior continues to threaten Indian integrity, "We will run a parallel government and this is my warning to them."
He also highlighted that BJP MLAs had previously held a parallel assembly after being expelled from the official session.
The controversy intensified with accusations that NC's "separatist mindset" had diminished the dignity of the House by introducing the resolution.
Constitutional challenge
Sharma challenges CM Abdullah, criticizes Congress-NC alliance
Sharma further argued that Article 370, which gave special status to J&K before its 2019 revocation, is now history.
He challenged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to find any constitutional reference of special status to J&K.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also slammed the Congress-National Conference alliance for passing the resolution, calling it part of a conspiracy against J&K.
"As soon as Congress and INDI alliance got the chance to form government...they started with their conspiracies against Kashmir," he said.