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| Bedlam continues in LA on Day 3 | | * PDP MLAs storm into well, stage walk out; BJP protests fertilizers scarcity | |
Arteev Sharma
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 24:
Another occurrence of total disorder and pandemonium marked third day’s Business in Legislative Assembly as vociferous opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLAs’ heightened reprisal on the issue of human rights violation in Kashmir Valley disrupted the House proceedings during Question Hour.
However, as the proceedings continued even amid chaos and noisy scenes, two main constituents of opposition, PDP and BJP staged walk out, though separately, against the government’s “insensitiveness” towards their pleas.
While the BJP MLAs staged walk out just six minutes after the commencement of House proceedings, the main opposition having 21 MLAs led by Mehbooba Mufti staged walk out at the end of Question Hour and later boycotted the House Business for rest of the day.
Amid the ruckus, the PDP MLAs except Mehbooba Mufti stormed into the well, disrupting the opening sequence even as the shouting brigade demanded a debate on 11-day-long infant, Irfan’s killing, a process described by the PDP chief as an act of creation of “counter stone pelting force.”
The Question Hour started on a chaotic note on second consecutive day as all the members of opposition including the Leader of Opposition Mehbooba Mufti, Leader of BJP Legislature Party, Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, Leader of JKNPP Legislature Party, Harsh Dev Singh and lone JSM MLA, Ashwani Kumar Sharma were on their feet and assembled in the front row.
Soon after the arrival of the Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone, the members of entire opposition around their respective leaders in front row and made massive sloganeering on different issues.
While BJP, JKNPP and JSM members tried to raise the issues of inflation, acute shortage of fertilizers in Jammu region shouting “Coalition Sarkar Hai Hai, Fertilizers Ki Kami Ko Pura Karo….”, the PDP members continued to raise the slogans like “PSA Sarkar Hai Hai”, “Khuni Sarkar Hai Hai.”, “NC Ka Daur Phir Aur Nikala, Hai Hai Yeh Adamkhor Nikala…”, “Ek Sawal Ka Jawab Do, Baaki Sawal Chod Do etc.”
While the PDP demanded a “debate” and “discussion” in the House on the killing of 11-day old infant in Baramulla by some miscreants, besides other issues of Human Right violations, the BJP MLAs tried to grill government over its “failure” to ensure fertilizers supply in Jammu region and other essential commodities.
After a brief protest, the BJP MLAs walked out from the House at around 9:36 a.m amid slogans. Choudhary Sukhnandan waved the receipts of money being deposited by the dealers of Jammu region with government agencies for procurement of fertilizer.
As the Speaker did not pay any heed to their pleas, the PDP MLAs stormed into the well and again started sloganeering, “Masoomon Ka Qatl Band Karo”, “Logo Ke Khun Ka Hisaab Do…”
They also tore the question booklet and other papers related to the Question Hour into pieces which they threw in front of the chair of the Speaker. Interestingly, it was all going when the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was in the House.
A R Veeri of PDP shouted, “Kashmir Ke Road Khun Se Lathpath Hai Aur Aap Road Banane Ki Baat Kar Rahe Hai….. (Roads in Kashmir are flooded with blood and you are talking about development of roads there).” ]
The PDP MLAs continued to rent the air with the questions, “We want to ask the Government, what is the fault of people of Kashmir? Why innocent people are being killed? We want discussion on it.”
The high-voltage drama continued till the end of the Question Hour. The PDP MLAs had repeated scuffles with Marshals who prevented their move towards the Chair.
The Speaker’s hand-folded pleas too fell on the deaf ears of the shouting opposition that maintained its crescendo over the demand for a discussion on human right violation particularly infant’s death in Baramulla.
As the commotion charged to zeniths, an audience in the public gallery pronounced his resentment on top of his voice warning for a restoration of peace in the House. This called for an immediate action by Marshals against the erring person, later identified as Zulfikar Ali Rahat, who was immediately escorted out of the House, may be an incident of its kind happening for the first time.
Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, senior PDP MLA said, “Speaker Sahib, there should be a discussion over prevailing situation in the Valley.”
Responding to the plea of the PDP MLA, the Speaker asked, “Are you were not in the meeting where it was unanimously decided that there would be disruption in the House during Question Hour?”
He said, “I, too, share your concern. We will have a discussion after the completion of Question Hour.” A R Veeri retorted, “This is for first time opposition voice is being unheard.”
Seeing the Speaker did not concede to their requests, Nizam-ud-Din Bhat asked the BJP MLAs particularly Chaman Lal Gupta and Ashok Khajuria to join their move against the government’s “failure” to stop human rights violations but the BJP MLAs evaded his plea.
An agitated PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti pointing out towards the treasury benches shouted, “Yeh Assembly Aap Ke Ghar Mein Chal Rahi Hai,” “Yeh Assembly Nahi NC Ka Office Hai….” The entire party staged walkout at 10:30 a.m and boycotted the Business of the day.
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