Srinagar, March 25 -- MLA Handwara and Peoples Conference President Sajad Lone walked out of the J&K Assembly today in protest against a bill amending Section 2 of the Goods and Services Tax Act.

The bill sought to replace "J&K State" with "J&K UT," a move he said amounted to endorsing Jammu and Kashmir's Union Territory status.

"I want to make it clear that the passage of the bill is tantamount to endorsement of the UT status of J&K. I tried to protest, but given the massive mandate that the people of J&K have given to NC, my voice was drowned out. And I walked out," Lone stated.

He questioned why the Assembly was being consulted now when it was not asked before the abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A or the downgrading of J&K t...