Jammu:
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed high drama and repeated disruptions on Tuesday after a sharp confrontation erupted between BJP and Congress legislators over remarks questioning the existence of the Pir Panjal region, which includes the border districts of Poonch and Rajouri.
The controversy was triggered by comments made by Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma (BJP), who reportedly dismissed the term “Pir Panjal,” prompting outrage from the Congress and the National Conference (NC).
Congress Demands Apology, Assembly Proceedings Hit
Congress MLA Iftikhar Ahmad strongly objected to Sharma’s remarks, calling them an “insult to the people of Pir Panjal.”
“Sunil Sharma should apologise. We will not allow the House to function until he apologises to the people of the Pir Panjal region,” Ahmad said inside the Assembly.
Ahmad was reacting to Sharma’s statement made a day earlier while responding to questions from reporters about demands for establishing a National Law University in the Pir Panjal belt. Sharma had said that “no such region exists in the dictionary,” sparking immediate backlash.
Congress, NC Accuse BJP of Undermining Regional Identity
Leaders from both the Congress and the National Conference accused Sharma of denying the historical and cultural identity of the Pir Panjal region. The issue soon escalated into a full-blown confrontation, with members raising slogans and staging protests inside the House.
The Assembly echoed with chants of “Jeeve Jeeve Pir Panjal” from Congress and NC MLAs, while BJP legislators countered with “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.” Amid the chaos, the Speaker was forced to adjourn the House.
BJP Hits Back, Alleges Communal Polarisation
The BJP responded by staging protests of its own. Senior BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi alleged that the Congress was attempting to manufacture a new regional nomenclature to divide Jammu along communal lines.
According to the BJP, the demand framed around Pir Panjal reflects divisive politics, while the opposition insists it is about recognition of a long-standing regional identity.
Protests Spill Outside the Assembly
Following the adjournment, protests continued outside the Assembly complex. National Conference leader Aijaz Jan defended the Pir Panjal region’s contribution to national security.
“People from Pir Panjal sacrificed their lives in Operation Sindoor. We do not need certificates of nationalism. Our contribution to the country’s security is unmatched,” Jan said.
Historical Undertones Add to Sensitivity
The controversy has revived memories of the 1950 Dixon Plan, which had proposed dividing Jammu and Kashmir along religious lines—an issue that remains deeply sensitive in the region.
While the BJP links the current demand to divisive historical politics, the Congress and National Conference argue that acknowledging Pir Panjal is essential to respecting regional aspirations and identity.
With tempers flaring and positions hardening, the Pir Panjal row has emerged as a new flashpoint in Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.