Adil Lateef
Srinagar, June 10: In yet another embarrassment to Government, ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) members today created uproar in Upper House over reported statement of coalition Government spokesman Naeem Akhtar of disallowing Yatra to ‘Abhinav Gupt cave’ in Beerwah area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
As soon as the House met, the BJP members on treasury benches got up and sought Government statement over the yatra to ‘Abhinav Gupt Cave’. The members who created uproar include Ajatshatru Singh, Ashok Khajuria, Ramesh Arora, Charanjeet Singh and Vibodh Gupta.
“Saying no to Abhinav Gupt yatra is akin to saying no to Baba Reshi and Laleshwari (Lal Ded). The history of Kashmir Shaivism cannot be denied,” the BJP members said and urged the Chairman Anayat Ali to take serious note of separatists’ statements wherein they had termed the proposal of yatra to Abhinav Gupt as “Indian aggression and RSS ploy”.
Amid noisy scenes, the House Chairman urged the BJP members to sit down but they continued to raise the issue and insisted for statement from Government. The Congress MLC, Naresh Gupta, also endorsed the BJP members’ demand. The BJP MLC Vibodh Gupta while referring to the statements of separatists and Government spokesman against yatra said: “It’s an attack on our secular status.”
“We will not allow House to function till Government doesn’t give a statement,” the charged BJP members said. The Chairman assured the members that they would be allowed to raise the issue during Zero Hour but his assurance couldn’t pacify the ruling party members. It was only after Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh’s intervention that BJP members sat down on their benches and allowed House to proceed.
A Delhi-based organization, Acharaya Abhinav Gupt Sheshadri Samaroh Samiti headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, is planning yatra to ‘Abhinav Gupt’ on June 11 after Mela Kheer Bhawani. However, the State Government on Thursday had said they have not received any request from anybody with regard to the yatra and also made it clear that yatra won’t be allowed.
On the other side, the Opposition Congress MLC, Ghulam Nabi Monga and National Conference MLC, Dr Shehnaz Ganai raised the issue of resolution which they had submitted jointly in the House against the remarks of Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Sadhvi Prachi’s remarks against country’s Muslims. But the Chairman neither tabled the resolution nor rejected it.
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