Thu Nov 07 22:57:58 UTC 2024: ## Fistfight Erupts in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over Article 370

**SRINAGAR, INDIA -** The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly was thrown into chaos on Thursday as a heated debate over Article 370, the region’s former special status, escalated into a physical brawl between members.

The incident occurred during the ongoing five-day Assembly session, the first in six years, which began on Monday. The session has been marked by intense debates and disruptions surrounding the revocation of Article 370 in 2019.

The brawl started when Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh, brother of jailed Baramulla MP Engineer Rashid, displayed a banner on Article 370 during the session. This sparked immediate objection from BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, leading to a heated argument. The heated exchange quickly devolved into physical clashes, forcing Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to temporarily adjourn the session.

The Assembly session has been a hotbed of controversy since its inception. On the first day, PDP MLA Waheed Para introduced a resolution calling for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, leading to further disruptions. On Wednesday, the Assembly passed a resolution urging the Centre to find a constitutional way to restore the region’s special status, with the resolution facing strong opposition from the BJP.

Article 370, which was part of the Indian Constitution, granted Jammu and Kashmir significant autonomy in internal matters. The Centre’s decision to revoke it in 2019 resulted in the reorganization of the region into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The recent fistfight underscores the deep divisions and unresolved tensions surrounding Article 370 in the region. It remains to be seen how these tensions will be addressed moving forward.

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