From Debate to Division: Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Erupts Amid Rising Public Anger and Polarisation
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From Debate to Division: Jammu & Kashmir Assembly Erupts Amid Rising Public Anger and Polarisation
||Black and White Digital News || ||Parvinder Singh April 12,2025 ||
Jammu :In what many are calling the darkest chapter in the recent history of Jammu and Kashmir’s democratic functioning, the Legislative Assembly descended into chaos this week. Lawmakers, instead of focusing on urgent public issues, engaged in personal attacks, religious sloganeering, and even physical altercations — turning the temple of democracy into a theatre of conflict and confusion.
Liquor and Mining Mafias Spark Firestorm in Assembly:
The immediate flashpoint came when MLA Mehraj Malik launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing it of shielding liquor and mining mafias operating brazenly in the “City of Temples” and other parts of the Union Territory. Malik alleged that these mafias were not only looting state minerals but also draining the state exchequer, all while enjoying political protection.
His remarks were met with strong opposition from BJP legislators, resulting in a heated exchange that quickly escalated into physical confrontations, the overturning of tables, and use of foul language — all caught on camera and widely circulated across media platforms. For the first time in J&K’s recent legislative history, such visuals of lawlessness inside the assembly have shaken public faith.
Religious Sloganeering: A Dangerous New Low
What further alarmed observers was the open display of religious slogans inside the assembly — a first for a region long celebrated for its syncretic culture.
• MLAs from Kashmir were seen raising slogans of “Allahu Akbar” and “Naray-e-Takbeer”,
• While MLAs from Jammu retaliated by chanting “Jai Shri Ram” on the assembly floor.
This unprecedented religious polarization inside a secular legislative forum has left many citizens dismayed and disturbed. People across both regions — Jammu and Kashmir — are now in a deep dilemma, questioning whether their leaders are exploiting religion for political gain rather than working for inclusive development and harmony.
Diversion from Real Governance: Waqf Bill Drama
The drama over the Waqf Board Bill, which had already been passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and had received Presidential assent, consumed three full days of legislative business. Despite its legal finality, legislators from multiple parties turned the assembly into a debate hall on a settled matter, leading critics to accuse them of “wasting public time and resources to create political narratives”.
Public Disillusionment: Streets React, Anger Boils Over
The chaos within the assembly spilled over onto the streets. Supporters of Mehraj Malik came out in protest, while some PDP-affiliated groups opposed him, using derogatory language against the late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed — drawing sharp reactions from various quarters.
This internal bickering within opposition spaces has added to the confusion, leaving citizens without a clear political alternative and further eroding public trust.
Common Man’s Issues Left in the Cold
While elected representatives engaged in showdowns, the real issues haunting the people remain buried:
• Daily wagers continue to wait for a comprehensive policy on regularisation, despite repeated promises.
• Unemployment among youth is at an all-time high, with no tangible roadmap in sight.
• Narcoterrorism and drug addiction are rapidly infiltrating society, especially in border districts.
• Shortage of doctors, particularly in sub-district hospitals, has turned many into glorified referral centers, putting an overwhelming burden on GMC Jammu and other tertiary care hospitals.
• Police stations are critically understaffed, leading to delays in responding to rising crimes, including robberies, gang wars, thefts, and drug trafficking.
Governance Deficit: Where Are the Elections?
Key democratic processes remain in limbo:
• Municipal Council elections are long overdue, yet no official word has come from the government.
• Panchayat elections, a critical link in grassroots democracy, have also been indefinitely delayed, raising concerns about democratic backsliding.
In the absence of elected local bodies, governance and grievance redressal at the community level is crippled, leading to a growing sense of alienation.
Urban Decay in Smart City Plans:
The state of urban infrastructure in Jammu continues to deteriorate despite ambitious “Smart City” branding:
• Parking space crunch has reached critical levels, with vehicles choking roadsides and leading to chaotic traffic jams.
• Street lights are defunct in many areas, raising security risks, particularly for women and senior citizens.
• Dog bite cases have spiked, with no effective animal control strategy in place.
• Banned polythene continues to be used indiscriminately, defeating environmental goals.
• Online betting and gaming addiction, particularly among the youth, is rising sharply, pushing many into debt and social isolation.
Corruption, Work-Life Balance, and Public Services in Decline:
• Work-life balance, especially among working-class and lower-middle-class families, is deteriorating under financial stress and lack of social welfare support.
• Civic services, including sanitation, water supply, and public health, remain erratic and poorly monitored.
A State in Paralysis, A People in Despair:
The events of this week paint a troubling picture of institutional collapse, rising communal polarization, and political opportunism. The Jammu & Kashmir Assembly, instead of offering hope, has deepened the public’s sense of despair. People are left asking:
“Is this the democracy we voted for? Is this the leadership we were promised?”
