Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 6: Upper House of the State Legislature witnessed noisy scenes on the issue of killing of a youth in Baramulla area of Kashmir in firing by security force men, while ruling National Conference and Opposition PDP and NPP members trade charges, disrupting proceedings in the House today.
Soon as the Legislative Council commended its business in the morning, the PDP members Mohammed Ashraf Mir, Sayed Asgar Ali and Nizam-ud-Din Khatana stood up and pressed for their adjournment motion moved on the issue of killing of a youth in Baramulla in security forces’ firing. NPP member Sayed Rafiq Shah also joined them on the same issue and started waving a news paper in the House showing report and photograph of the youth killed in firing. They demanded that their adjournment motion be admitted and discussion be allowed in the House on this serious issue.
Chairman, Legislative Council Amrit Malhotra tried to convince them and said that though issue was of serious nature, he will allow it on some other day. He asked the Opposition members to take their seats and allow Question Hour in the House. However, the members remained unmoved and continued shouting in the House alleging that innocent people are being killed in Kashmir and it was happening due to enforcement of Armed Forces Special Powers Act and this should be withdrawn immediately. They also leveled charges against the ruling regime in J&K and Delhi and held them responsible for the killings. They alleged that blood shed was continued and there was no end to it while NC was sleeping and is least bothered over the killings of innocent people.
Mr Malhotra then cancelled the entire business during Question Hour and admitted the adjournment motion and allowed discussion. The PDP member Mohd Ashraf Mir termed the killing of youth Tahir Latief Sofi as cold blooded murder. He alleged that for how long this naked dance of death will be allowed in Kashmir. Delhi people want Kashmir and not the people of Kashmir. He condemned the killing and demanded high level inquiry. He alleged that there was black out in local TV Channels and social media was also controlled. It was murder of democracy. Mr Mir demanded stern action against the force men responsible for this unprovocative act.
Some unpleasant words of NC member Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri created furore in the House as he alleged that PDP men in the garb of militants killed many Kashmiri’s and they were responsible for playing `holi’ of blood in Bijbehara as well. They were behind the killings of Kashmiri’s and violence in Valley few years back. The words irked the Opposition members and they stood up and started raising allegations on the NC members. Several other NC members including Devender Singh Rana also joined their party members and process of charges and counter charges started. It was total uproar and din in the House and nothing was clearly audible. Chairman, tried to restore order in the House but he failed in his repeated attempts. Asharaf Mir alleged that their party and some top leaders were allegedly involved in murders and they play drama to get public sympathy. Mr Rana alleged you people always tried to play politics on dead bodies and “we will not allow you to do it. You will be exposed and people will not forgive you for it.” The Chairman however, stood up and managed to restore order after five minutes.
Sayed Rafiq Shah (NPP) and Ravinder Sharma (Cong) had also tiff when Mr Sharma was speaking and defending New Delhi and his party on the issue of killing. Shah alleged that Congress was the main culprit for the bloodshed and this kind of situation in Kashmir. Mr Sharma launched counter attack remarking, “Mera Muhn Mat Khulwao, ….you will also be exposed.” However, with the intervention of the `Chair’ the order was restored. Majority of the members condemned the killing and termed the incident as most unfortunate. They also stressed for inquiry and action in this regard. The PDP and NC members also opposed the AFSPA. Sayed Asgar Ali asked the Government to take concrete steps into the gruesome incident as only lodging FIR was not sufficient.
Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra who is also leader of the Upper House, while replying to the Adjournment Motion said that an FIR has been lodged in connection with the firing incident at Baramulla. He said culprits will be punished and the family will receive justice. Sadhotra said his Government has zero tolerance policy over Human Rights violations as such incidents only increase alienation among the people. Terming the incident as unfortunate, Mr Sadhotra condemned the incident and expressed sympathy with the family.
Others who participated in the discussion included Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy, Jehangir Mir, Javed Rana, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool, Ghulam Ahmed Monga, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Vijay Bakaya, Ajat Shatru Singh, Devinder Singh Rana.
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