J&K Assembly’s Budget Session Ends With Bedlam On Final Day

Jammu: The 21-day budget session of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly concluded on Wednesday, with the Speaker adjourning the House sine die. The session, which began on March 3, today witnessed protests over disallowing of adjournment motions brought by National Conference and Bharatiya Janata Party, respectively, on the Waqf (ammedment) bill-2025 and unemployment.
The pandemonium broke out in the House as soon as proceedings began with NC legislators standing up to insist the Speaker to allow discussion on the Waqf law. “You should allow discussion on the Waqf bill so that we can speak up against the injustices faced by Muslims,” Gurezi urged the Speaker. He accused the BJP of playing divisive politics. “They want to divide Hindu and Muslims. They should tell people how many jobs they have provided to unemployed youth during the past 10 years,” he said.
Amid protests by NC lawmakers, the Speaker announced that he has rejected an adjournment motion brought by the BJP on the issue of unemployment.
“I have rejected the adjournment motion as it doesn’t pertain to the matter of urgent nature,” the Speaker announced. “The adjournment motions can be brought only on the matters of urgent nature.” The Speaker’s ruling sparked protests from BJP legislators. Shouting slogans, the BJP legislators led by leader of opposition Sunil Sharma stormed into the well of the House and staged a sit- in there. The Speaker adjourned the House till 1: 00 AM. When the House reassembled at 1:10 AM, the Speaker defended his action of rejecting the adjournment motion on Waqf law. He cited sub- Rule 7 and 9 of Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure of Conduct of Business in J&K Legislative Assembly to justify his action. The Speaker informed the House that during the Session, 1355 questions were received. “154 main questions were taken up during this session while their 353 supplementaries were answered,” he said. He informed the House that 1738 Cut Motions were also received and 1731 were taken up for the discussions. He further informed the House that three Government Bills were received and subsequently passed by the house. He added that 33 Private Members Bills were also received and listed for the business. The Speaker further informed the House that 78 Calling Attention Motions were received by the Assembly Secretariat, out of which 23 were listed for the business and 34 were disallowed. The speaker said that the 21 -day budget session was the second longest in the country during 2025. He also informed that 109 resolutions were received during the session, out of which 85 were admitted and 14 were listed for business.The Speaker further said that more than 39 hours were utilized during the budget session.