BJP MLAs entering the well
Jammu & Kashmir: At least 15 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, including Langate MLA Sheikh Khurshid, BJP MLAs entering the well were on Friday marshalled out of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly as they attempted to protest in the well of the House.
Soon after the speaker evicted the leaders, 11 other BJP MLAs walked out of the House in protest.
The House has been witnessing uproar for the last two days as BJP MLAs have been protesting vociferously after the resolution to restore the special status passed by an overwhelming vote on Wednesday, November 6.
‘Remove them away…’
The BJP MLAs entering the well had jumped into the well, grabbed the papers, and tore them into pieces, causing the speaker to marshall them out.
“Remove them away…,” J&K Assembly’s newly elected speaker Abdul Rahim Rather could be heard repeating, ordering for the BJP leaders to be rushed out, according to the visuals released by ANI.
When the House met for the day in the morning, the BJP MLAs raised slogans like ‘Pakistani agenda nahi chalega.’ Amid the chaos, the speaker adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes.
Following the adjournment, the MLAs continued to protest, even after Rahim Rather requested them to take their seats. BJP MLAs entering the well.
J&K Assembly ruckus: The story behind
After the resolution seeking the restoration of the erstwhile state’s constitutional special status was passed on Wednesday, the Assembly urged the Centre to begin discussions with elected representatives from the region to restore Jammu and Kashmir‘s special status and constitutional guarantees and establish the necessary constitutional mechanisms for this purpose.
“This Legislative Assembly reaffirms the importance of the special status and constitutional guarantees, which safeguarded the identity, culture and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and expresses concern over their unilateral removal,” PTI quoted Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary as saying.
In a parliamentary democracy, legislative assemblies operate based on established rules of procedure. The well of the house is designated for order and decorum, but it also has a symbolic meaning. When legislators cross the boundary into the well, it is often seen as a mark of serious objection or dissent, intended to draw immediate attention to issues deemed critical by the protesting MLAs.
For BJP MLAs entering the well usually signifies urgent dissatisfaction with either the proceedings, the government’s actions (in the case of BJP as the opposition), or policies being debated. This is not an isolated tactic of BJP alone; several parties in India have used the well as a place of protest, underscoring the urgency and intensity of political disputes.
J&K Assembly
Today’s episode marks the third day that the Assembly has witnessed chaos and bedlam, paralysing the proceedings.
On November 7, the Assembly erupted into chaos after Engineer Rashid’s brother and MLA Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh displayed a banner on Article 370, the provision granting special status to the erstwhile state abolished in August 2019.
BJP MLAs might decide to enter the well for various reasons, typically related to pressing local or national issues. Below are some of the recurring motivations:
- Demand for Action on Specific Issues
- BJP MLAs entering the well to demand prompt action on issues such as law and order, corruption, economic policies, or welfare schemes. Entering the well emphasizes the seriousness with which they regard these matters, often hoping to compel the government to respond quickly.
- Highlighting Discontent with Government Policies
- If BJP MLAs entering the well as a opposition, they may use this strategy to highlight their objections to particular policies or bills, often those they believe are unfair, discriminatory, or economically harmful. Through this form of protest, they aim to mobilize public opinion and push for amendments or even withdrawal of contentious policies.
- Protesting Alleged Discrimination or Partisanship
- In some assemblies, MLAs allege that they or their constituents are unfairly treated by the ruling party. By stepping into the well, BJP MLAs can publicly assert that their voices and the interests of their voters are being overlooked.
- Demanding Transparency and Accountability
- Calls for transparency in governance, particularly in matters related to finance or administration, are a common reason for such demonstrations. BJP MLAs may enter the well to press for answers and accountability from the ruling party on issues of public concern. BJP MLAs entering the well
In the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, a ruckus ensued as BJP MLAs entered the well of the house. The chaotic situation required marshalling out of the BJP MLAs. The incident unfolded during a session, leading to disruptions and a tense atmosphere within the assembly. The BJP MLAs’ entry into the well further escalated the already heated proceedings. Efforts were made to restore order and conduct the proceedings smoothly, but the disruption caused by the BJP MLAs entering the well persisted for a significant duration.