NC, BJP clash on opening day of J&K Assembly over late Governor Satya Pal Malik’s role in Article 370 move

Srinagar: The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly opened on a stormy note on Thursday, with sharp exchanges between the ruling National Conference (NC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over former Governor Satya Pal Malik’s role in the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.

The uproar broke out during obituary references when NC legislator Bashir Veeri described Malik’s tenure as “controversial.” His remarks prompted an immediate protest from BJP member Sham Lal Sharma, who demanded that the statement be deleted from the official record.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened, asking members to maintain decorum and show respect to the deceased, but he declined Sharma’s request to expunge Veeri’s words. As tempers settled, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, saying the late Governor might have acted in what he believed to be the best interest of the region.

Before the House convened, NC legislators staged a brief demonstration outside the Assembly complex, demanding the release of Mehraj Malik, an AAP MLA from Doda, who was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in September. The protestors held placards reading “Free Mehraj Malik” and observed silence before proceeding inside the chamber.

The nine-day autumn session, which runs until October 31, will comprise six working sittings. The opening day was dedicated to paying tributes to former lawmakers and ministers who passed away in recent months.

This marks the fourth session of the J&K Legislative Assembly since elections were held in October 2024, restoring democratic governance after more than six years of central rule.

The first session, convened in Srinagar, had passed two key resolutions — one seeking restoration of full statehood and another urging the Union government to hold talks with elected representatives on the region’s special status.

Thursday’s fiery exchanges over Malik’s legacy reflect how the political divisions of 2019 continue to dominate discourse in the restored House, underscoring the enduring sensitivity of Article 370 — and the deep mistrust between Kashmir’s ruling party and the BJP-led opposition.