Heated Exchanges Mark Session as BJP Accuses Discrimination; Deputy CM Choudhary Clashes with Opposition Amidst Allegations of Misleading House
- The J&K Assembly witnessed intense uproar as BJP MLAs, led by Surjit Singh Slathia, pressed for a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu, accusing the government of discrimination, while NC and PDP legislators raised concerns over alleged harassment of Kashmiris outside the UT.
- Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary denied allegations of flood relief discrimination, asserting ₹289.39 crore under SDRF and ₹100 crore under UT Capex were released, while clashing with BJP over claims of misled information and politicization of suffering.
- NC MLAs staged a dharna demanding immediate restoration of Statehood and an end to alleged harassment of Kashmiris, issues later echoed inside the House by Mubarak Gul and Wahid-ur-Rehman Para, highlighting growing safety concerns.
Jammu, February 03, 2026: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today plunged into pandemonium, marked by noisy scenes, sharp exchanges, and a walkout, as critical issues ranging from a National Law University (NLU) demand to alleged harassment of Kashmiris and flood relief allocation ignited a fiery debate. Opposition BJP members vehemently pressed for the establishment of an NLU in Jammu, while National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislators voiced serious concerns over alleged harassment of Kashmiris outside the Union Territory.
Proceedings were disrupted almost immediately after the House convened. BJP MLA Surjit Singh Slathia initiated the uproar by highlighting the ongoing protests by Jammu University students advocating for an NLU in the Jammu region. He clarified that while his party did not oppose a law university in Kashmir, Jammu warranted equal consideration. “We are not against an NLU for Kashmir, but students in Jammu are also demanding one such institution. Their aspirations must be fulfilled,” Slathia asserted. As he spoke, BJP legislators rose to display placards and chanted slogans of “NLU for Jammu,” provoking strong objections from the treasury benches. Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat criticized the use of placards, citing a recent Business Advisory Committee decision to uphold House decorum, stating, “Displaying placards amounts to intrusion and is unacceptable. The government granted permission for the NLU in Kashmir through due process.” It is pertinent to note that just yesterday, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma had publicly justified the students’ plea for a separate NLU in Jammu, vowing his party’s support, a statement that drew sharp criticism from Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, who accused the BJP of creating uproar instead of focusing on broader governance.
Amidst this initial uproar, NC MLA Mubarak Gul and PDP MLA Wahid-ur-Rehman Para sought to raise the crucial issue of alleged harassment and assaults on Kashmiri students and traders across various parts of the country. Para attempted to move an adjournment motion to discuss what he termed a growing number of “hate crime” incidents against Kashmiris. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather rejected the adjournment motion, insisting that the Question Hour proceed, and repeatedly urged members to maintain order. He emphasized that such matters could be addressed through appropriate channels without disrupting House proceedings, informing the House that the J&K government had already engaged with various state governments on the issue and thanked the Uttarakhand Chief Minister for prompt action in a recent case.
Tension further escalated during Question Hour when BJP MLAs Rajiv Jasrotia and Pawan Gupta staged a walkout from the House, alleging blatant discrimination against the Jammu region in the allocation of flood relief funds. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary immediately denied these allegations, engaging in a heated exchange with the BJP members. Responding to Jasrotia’s query, Choudhary clarified that no funds had been released by the Centre for flood restoration works during the current financial year 2025–26. He stated, however, that ₹289.39 crore had been released under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and an additional ₹100 crore under the UT Capex Budget for flood relief measures. He also cited allocations under the Flood Management and Border Area Programme and mentioned that the Centre had earmarked ₹1,431 crore for J&K under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), contingent upon submission of detailed proposals.
Unsatisfied with the reply, BJP legislators accused the Deputy CM of “misleading the House,” claiming that the Union Home Ministry had already sanctioned ₹212 crore as immediate relief. Choudhary retaliated, accusing the BJP of politicizing suffering. “Whether floods hit Jammu or Kashmir, the pain is the same for us. Our government does not discriminate,” he asserted, also criticizing the BJP over the alleged closure of the Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College. Later, speaking to reporters, Jasrotia alleged that Jammu was ignored despite severe flood and landslide damage last year, with Gupta highlighting extensive uncompensated damage in his Udhampur constituency.
Earlier in the day, NC MLAs staged a dharna outside the Assembly complex, forcefully demanding the immediate restoration of Statehood and an end to the alleged harassment of Kashmiris outside J&K. Carrying placards and raising slogans, the legislators underscored that the promise of restoring statehood must be fulfilled. “This was promised to us. It is time to restore statehood,” NC MLA Tanvir Sadiq declared, while appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure the safety of Kashmiris living and working outside the Union Territory. The issue of harassment was later echoed inside the House, with legislators referring to recent incidents, including the assault on an 18-year-old Kashmiri shawl seller in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun district, highlighting widespread and growing concerns over the safety of Kashmiris in other states.
