news details |
|
|
| As House adjourns, uncertainty looms over release of detained JKDF cadre | | | KUNAL SHRIVATSA
JAMMU, Oct 10: Even as the 10-day long Autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly came to an end today, the fate of three Jammu based youths who jumped into the members' area of the Lower House from public gallery on October 8 demanding implementation of employment policy hangs in balance as the Speaker took no decision on their release from police custody.
The three youth activists of newly floated Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Front (JKDF) including Manish Khajuria, Sunny Malhotra and Ambedkar Gupta were overpowered by Assembly marshals and placed under arrest on the orders of the Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone.
The youths, who had got passes on the recommendation of expelled BJP member Jagdish Raj Sapolia to witness the proceedings from the public gallery, unfurled the flag of a newly floated party JKDF.
They also raised slogans demanding implementation of employment policy in the state. The Speaker immediately ordered investigation into how the youths enter into the Assembly. The proceedings of the House were disrupted for a short while due to the incident.
Immediately after the unruly scenes, the Speaker passed the direction to the Superintendent of Police, Security, Civil Secretariat, Srinagar Maqsoodul Zaman, to take the offenders in custody till October 10. The SP later handed the three youths to the SHO, Police Station Shaheed Gunj.
Following the high voltage drama, the Speaker had ruled that the House will announce the action to be taken against three youths as well as MLA Basohli Jagdish Raj Sapolia on October 10.
However, no decision was taken on the youths' detention even on last day of the proceedings of the House.
With the Speaker adjourning the house sine die, the JKDF Chairman Anil Gupta lamented that despite a ruling of the Chair to take a final call on the fate of the three detained JKDF activists today, no decision was taken and the delay on this account is unnecessarily causing harassment for the detainees.
Speaking to Early Times, Chairman JKDF Anil Gupta said, "The Speaker had announced that the decision on the three detained youths will be taken on October 10 but sorry to say no such ruling was passed by him today and the House was adjourned."
"If the delay on part of the Speaker to decide the action is agonizing, the refusal of the authorities concerned to grant permission to the lawyers to meet in person three youths is distressing. One could only describe it as unconstitutional and highly undemocratic step," Gupta added.
Meanwhile, Speaker of JK Legislative Assembly Mohammad Akbar Lone when contacted said that he has directed the police to take action as per existing laws.
"I have issued instructions that initiate action against the three youths as per law keeping in view the volume of the offence," Lone said.
Giving an indication that the law enforcement agencies could take lenient view of the incident, the Speaker said whatever the case may be in spite of everything the youths are our very own.
"Akhir Woh Bachche Hi Hain (Nevertheless they are our children)," the Speaker quipped.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
