Ruckus over Omar speech in assembly, BJP MLA injured

SRINAGAR - There was chaos in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly Thursday as opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Panthers Party legislators tore papers and snatched mikes to protest Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s speech a day earlier.

The legislators, who gathered near the speaker’s podium, were marshalled out of the house. In the process, BJP legislator Durga Das was injured and received stitches in a hospital. He said he was hurt by the ‘kada’, or steel bangle, worn by one of the marshals. Two other BJP legislators also claim to have been injured.

The BJP, Panthers Party and the Jammu Morcha have now decided to boycott the rest of the assembly session.

The opposition legislators were protesting Abdullah’s speech Wednesday where he had said Kashmir had acceded to India under an agreement and not merged with it. He had also asked why the BJP was repeatedly stating that Kashmir was an integral part of India, as it meant they had doubts about their own statement.