Turbulent Times: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Kicks Off Amid Protests

The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly opened with tributes to recently deceased leaders. Protests erupted over the arrest of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik, overshadowing proceedings. The session's agenda includes pending bills and the election of four Rajya Sabha members, while key issues are expected to spark lively debates.

The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly commenced with high tension as protests erupted over the arrest of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik. Starting with tributes to several notable deceased leaders, the session quickly turned contentious due to pressing political issues.

Before the session began, members of the ruling National Conference (NC) and Congress staged a silent protest demanding Malik's release. Malik was arrested last month under the Public Safety Act for allegedly disturbing public order. The session also saw discussions on upcoming elections for four Rajya Sabha seats, with expectations of close contests.

The legislative agenda promises to be intense, with debates over statehood restoration, reservation policies, and the regularization of daily wagers. The Assembly will also decide on nearly three dozen bills from the previous session. The opposition is poised to challenge the NC government on unfulfilled promises from last year's manifesto.

(With inputs from agencies.)