The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly (J&K) turned into dramatic political stage on Friday, with shouting, taunts, and brief scuffle. It began as slogan-raising but soon escalated into a heated face-off between two MLAs, even forcing security to step in and pause proceedings.
The budget session resumed on March 27 after five-week break. But instead of calm discussions, both treasury and opposition members started raising slogans and disrupting Question Hour.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather repeatedly appealed for order, but noise only grew louder. The House was eventually adjourned for 30 minutes as the situation slipped out of control.
Also Read: Disagreements must be expressed in dignified manner; J&K Assembly Speaker tells MLAs
Heated moment between MLAs
The tension peaked when Congress MLAs raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This led to a sharp exchange between Congress MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone and BJP MLA Yudvir Sethi.
#WATCH | Jammu | Scuffle erupts between Congress MLA Irfan Hafiz Lone and BJP MLA Yudvir Sethi, after Congress MLAs raised slogans against PM Modi, in the J&K Assembly
In response, BJP MLA Yudvir Sethi says, “Rahul Gandhi is Pappu”.
Assembly proceedings adjourned for a short… pic.twitter.com/xYXOUXR3Bp
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2026
Sethi moved toward Lone while chanting “Rahul Gandhi is Pappu”. It triggered a heated confrontation. Security personnel quickly stepped in and physically separated the two leaders before the situation escalated further.
Protests over international issue
The unrest was not limited to one issue. Members from the ruling National Conference, Congress, CPI(M), Independents, and opposition People’s Democratic Party were protesting the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack last month.
Their coordinated protest added to the charged atmosphere inside the House.
Amid the chaos, BJP members also held placards demanding the establishment of a National Law University in Jammu.
Background of the session
The first leg of the budget session ran from February 2 to 20. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah presented the budget on February 6, and grants for various departments were passed after detailed discussions.
The current session is scheduled to continue until April 4, but Friday’s dramatic scenes showed that the political temperature remains high.