Tensions boiled over in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, triggered by Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma’s (BJP) alleged disparaging remark about the Peer Panjal region. Furious National Conference and Congress lawmakers demanded his immediate apology, turning the house into a battleground of shouts and stalled debates.
During Tuesday’s question hour on divisional status for the underdeveloped Peer Panjal—encompassing key districts like Rajouri and Poonch—Sharma’s supposed bewilderment over its location provoked instant backlash from ruling MLAs.
The assembly witnessed prolonged pandemonium: slogan-shouting NC members refused to back down, even after Speaker-mandated 15-minute halts. Resumed sessions fared no better, with chaos prompting extended adjournments.
Rajouri MLA Iftikhar Ahmad led the charge, stating unequivocally, ‘No apology, no business.’ The defiance held firm against the Speaker’s stern warnings of punitive action.
Escalating the rhetoric, Deputy CM Surender Choudhary accused BJP of duplicity—crocodile tears for Jammu paired with sabotage of local assets, notably plotting the closure of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College over petty admission rows.
This flare-up reveals entrenched regional animosities in J&K politics, where Peer Panjal’s push for parity with Kashmir Valley and Jammu divisions often ignites sparks. Without de-escalation, the controversy risks broader unrest, overshadowing pressing legislative priorities and challenging the coalition’s governance amid fragile peace.