Pandemonium in Kashmir assembly

Pandemonium erupted in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Tuesday after the Speaker ordered remarks by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expunged.

BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia got up as the assembly began its proceedings and urged Speaker Kavinder Gupta to expunge the remarks made by her on Monday in which she called those opposing Article 370 "anti-national".

The Speaker agreed and did so. Article 370 in the Constitution refers to Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

Members of the National Conference, Congress and others raised a hue and cry, saying the BJP's plea to expunge the remarks amounted to an act of no confidence by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Chief Minister.

The opposition sought a statement from the government. The house was adjourned for 30 minutes following the ruckus.

After the adjournment, the opposition continued to raise the demand, forcing another adjournment.

It is for the first time in the Jammu and Kashmir legislature that any remark made by the leader of the house has been expunged from the records.

Jammu and Kashmir is ruled by a PDP-BJP coalition.

--IANS

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