Suspension of National Conference MLAs revoked in Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker on Wednesday revoked the suspension of two National Conference members - Altaf Kaloo and Abdul Majeed Larmi - who were ousted from the House on Tuesday after they demanded a debate on the issue of permanent residency in the state.

The revocation came shortly after National Conference leader and former state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah joined his partymen in a dharna outside the Assembly. The members, however, have continued their agitation demanding the revocation of the suspension of two Legislative Council members, Ali Muhammad Dar and Showkat Ahmad Zargar, now.

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On Tuesday, the National Conference and ally Congress members disrupted the proceedings of the Assembly when the question hour started, seeking a discussion on Article 35A of the Indian constitution. The article deals with issues related to permanent residency and buying land in the country's only Muslim-majority state.

National Conference and Congress legislators held banners that read "Save Article 35 A". The Congress also demanded regularisation of daily wagers in the state. Many of the protesting legislators trooped near the Speaker's podium.

Speaker Kavinder Gupta did not allow a discussion on the article and suspended Altaf Kaloo and Abdul Majeed Larmi for the rest of the session for their unruly behaviour. A furious Abdullah said his party would boycott the rest of the session.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Syed Basharat Bukhari told the House that since the Supreme Court was hearing a petition against article 35A, the Assembly cannot discuss the issue.

The autumn session of the bicameral Jammu and Kashmir legislature started on October 3 and will end on October 10.

Watch: Protest in J-K assembly against Article 35