BJP Members Walkout Of J&K Assembly After Speaker Expunges Remarks Of Opposition Leader

Jammu, Mar 6: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly was engulfed in chaos on Wednesday following controversial remarks by Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma, who labeled the July 13 martyrs as “traitors.” The statement sparked fierce protests from both the ruling benches and opposition parties from Kashmir, culminating in the expunging of Sharma’s remarks and a dramatic walkout by BJP legislators.

The uproar unfolded during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the Lieutenant Governor’s address when Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra urged the government to reinstate the July 13 Martyrs’ Day holiday. The day, historically observed in remembrance of those killed in the 1931 uprising against the Dogra rule, was officially removed as a public holiday after the abrogation of Article 370.

As Parra concluded his speech, Sunil Sharma strongly opposed the demand, asserting, “They were not martyrs but traitors.” His comment immediately triggered loud protests, with members from the Treasury benches and Kashmir-based opposition parties condemning the remarks as divisive and disrespectful.

MLA Bandipora Nizamuddin Bhat called for the remarks to be withdrawn, stating, “Such statements are humiliating and must be removed from the official records.” Amidst the escalating tension and heated exchanges, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened and announced that Sharma’s remarks would be expunged.

The decision enraged BJP legislators, who collectively staged a walkout in protest. The party accused the Speaker of suppressing their leader’s right to express a viewpoint, alleging bias in the proceedings.

Following the BJP’s departure, Peoples Conference MLA Sajad Gani Lone proposed a resolution calling for the reinstatement of public holidays for both July 13 Martyrs’ Day and the birth anniversary of National Conference (NC) founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah.