Neha
JAMMU, Feb 24: As of now it is difficult to predict if the to-be-elected-Speaker of the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly would allow a debate on resolution seeking handing over of the body of executed Kashmiri terrorist to his family. It all depends on what stand the NC, which is leading the state government in collaboration with the Congress party, ultimately takes on the very sensitive issue.
It is, however, true that many NC leaders, including the Chief Minister, his father and uncle and at least two NC MPs, are on record having demanded the return of Guru's body to his family members.
Notwithstanding their stand, it cannot be said with confidence that the NC would allow discussion on resolution on Guru. For, if one goes by the past record of the NC, then one can even say that it would not allow discussion on the Guru's body.
It bears recalling that the NC-led coalition government had sometime back created a situation in the Assembly that had led to the demise of the resolution that had sought clemency for Guru. The Speaker had accepted the resolution for discussion which did not take place. The resolution had been moved by MLA from Langet Engineer Rashid. Again, it is none other than Rashid who is trying his level best to ensure a discussion on the Guru's body. However, in case the NC finally decides to make the Speaker, who would obviously be a pledged NC man, to allow discussion on resolution on Guru taking into consideration its electoral interests in the Valley, the only party that would be in a fix would the Congress party. The PDP is clear on the issue. It would vote overwhelmingly for the resolution. All the Kashmir-based independent MLAs, without any exception, like all the 28 NC MLAs, would also vote for the resolution. For, all of them represent the same constituency and the same sentiment.
There is no doubt whatever that all the 11 BJP MLAs, including the seven expelled-from-the-BJP MLAs, three JKNPP MLAs and two independent MLAs will vote against the resolution. There are also reasons to believe that both the MLAs representing Leh district will also vote against the resolution because their sentiment is no different from the sentiment and attitude of the BJP and the JKNPP MLAs.
It would be the Congress party which would be in a quandary. There would be MLAs who would be more than eager to vote for the resolution and they would be none other than the Kashmir-based MLAs, all Cabinet Ministers. Medical Education Minister, Taj Mohi-ud-Din has already made his stand on the issue public. "We (Congress) will decide on that. We are yet to decide. In my opinion, it (Guru's body) should be (brought back)," Mohi-ud-Din was yesterday quoted as saying. If one goes by what he said, then it can also be said that his Congress colleagues from Kashmir would also vote in one direction. The real problem would be with the Jammu-based 13 Congress MLAs, including 8 ministers. If they vote for the resolution, most of them would be at the receiving end in Jammu.
The MLAs from Billawar, Gandhi Nagar, Akhnoor, Chhamb, Chenani and Ramban would not be in a position to show even their faces to their respective constituencies, nay the people of Jammu province. The MLAs from Rajouri, Doda and Gool-Arnas would also be at the receiving end because they represent constituencies which house mixed population. Not only they, the Congress party itself will also face
the people's ire across the province. It will pay a very heavy price in the upcoming general elections. Let's see what ultimately happens.
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