Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 20: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today strongly took on those spearheading protests over killings due to security forces in the Kashmir Valley and wondered why there were no protests, thumping of benches and throwing mikes over the killing of an innocent youth by the militants in Sopore area late last night.
Raising the issue during Question Hour in the Assembly, Omar, in a brief but hard hitting attack on those always in forefront of denouncing any death caused by the security personnel, wondered why there was total `sanata’ and `khamoshi’ (peace) in the House today when an innocent 17 years old Suhail Ahmad Sofi has been killed by the militants at Sopore last night.
“Why no one is on the benches throwing mikes and shouting or tearing off his clothes to protest the killing because it has been executed by the militants? Had the killing been committed by the security forces, there would have been uproar, throwing of tables, mikes and fans. But now when the killing has been executed by the militants, no one is speaking here”, he lamented.
The Chief Minister said: “when we condemn the violence, we should condemn it from both sides. If security forces commit some excesses, we condemn it. But now when the militants have killed an innocent youth, this should also have been vociferously condemned by the House”.
Asserting that blood is blood-whether the security personnel or the militants spilled it, Omar said: “we should strongly condemn the killing of Suhail Ahmad and all such killings by the militants”.
Pointing out that 17-year old boy from Sopore was chased and killed by the militants inside the Mosque, he strongly condemned the killing and expressed dismay over the behaviour of a particular faction of members in the Assembly who raise their voices vehemently against similar incidents in which security personnel are involved but keep mum when militants kill innocent people.
“If this kind of killing had been committed by security forces they would have torn out their clothes, castigated the country and asked me to give the answer for bleeding of innocent blood”, he said.
“Shedding of innocent blood and killings of people are ‘killings’ either committed by security forces or by militants and should be condemned in unequivocal terms without any discrimination”, Omar maintained.
The Chief Minister asked the members why they were adopting double standards when it came to killing of a Kashmiri youth by militants.
“If security forces would have killed anyone you would have marched to the well and torn your clothes. You would have thrown mikes and demanded answers from me, but when militants kill any one why don’t you raise your voice. Why these double standards?” Omar asked.
He also used micro-blogging site twitter to lash out at netizens, who maintained silence over the killing but had showed “outrage” against killing of a youth in firing by security forces last week.
“Militants chase an 18-year-old boy in to a mosque and shoot him. Imagine the outrage if this had been done by security forces,” he wrote.
The Chief Minister said the “hypocrisy” was evident from the reactions on his Twitter timeline to the killing of a youth by CRPF personnel last week and lack of any reaction to Sofi’s killing.
“Want to see the hypocrisy of selective outrage? Compare reactions on my TL (timeline) today to those exactly a week ago,” he added.
Omar said he was willing to accept the anger directed against the government for excesses by the security forces only from those who are willing to condemn the killings by militants as well.
“I can accept the anger directed against us for excesses by security forces but only from people willing to condemn such killings,” he said.
Speaker Mubarak Gul also shared the concern of the Chief Minister and condemned the killing of innocent youth. “On behalf of the House we condemn the killing”, he said.
“I think sentiments of all members are with the Chief Minister. No religion teaches the killings, bloodshed. This is condemnable”, Mr Gul said.
Reacting to the Chief Minister’s statement, CPM MLA MY Tarigami said this had been the tradition of the House to condemn the violence in any form cutting across the political lines.
“We are with the sentiments expressed by the Chief Minister. Violence in any form particularly the extremist violence is cancer for the society. Everyone should condemn it. We too strongly condemn the Sopore incident in which the youth was killed”, Mr Tarigami said.
PDF member Hakim Mohammad Yasin said he also support the Chief Minister and condemned the killing.
NC MLA and former Minister Javaid Dar also condemned the killing and sought maximum help for the family of the victim.
Later, the NPP and JSM members raised the issue of the expulsion of BJP MLA Jugal Kishore from the Assembly for rest of the session.
“The Government should be tolerant and accommodating. See all opposition benches are empty. First, the PDP boycotted the session and not the BJP has gone out of the House. What is the sanctity of the proceedings? Differences do occur when the members are agitated”, Harshdev said and urged the Chair to reconsider expulsion of Jugal Kishore for full session, which he described as unjustified.
JSM MLA Ashwani Sharma also echoed similar sentiments saying the Opposition MLAs have to agitate on their issues of discrimination. He called for revoking the expulsion of Mr Kishore, which was opposed by Congress National Conference and Congress members saying there can be no compromise on the issue.
Later, NPP MLAs Harshdev Singh and Yashpal Kundal and JSM MLA Ashwani Sharma staged a walkout in the House and boycotted the House proceedings for the day in protest against the expulsion of Jugal Kishore. NPP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia was not present in the House today.
Only the BJP breakaway group members attended the House proceedings from the Opposition side besides MY Tarigami (CPM) and Hakim Mohammad Yasin (PDP). Rest of the Opposition benches remained vacant in the Assembly today.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Saifullah Mir said right from the first day the PDP had adopted unique kind of approach as they raised issues, discussed them and then left before listening to the Government reply.
“This happened five to six times. They (the PDP) were in aggressive mood and had no intentions to ensure smooth running of the House or listen the Government view point as this would have made their stand week. Even on the last day (when they decided to boycott proceedings of the rest of the budget session), there was no incident in the House. They suddenly left”, Saifullah said.
He added that it wouldn’t be right to say that there was any talk from the Government side that provoked the PDP to go out of the House.
“The Government always listened to the PDP view point-good or bad. Some of the members have pointed out absence of the major opposition in the Assembly but they are out without any issue or anger. The party of 21 MLAs has been neglecting the people, who had elected them to the House. This shows how serious they are? There are some first time PDP MLAs, who want to come and speak”, the Law Minister said.
He said he on behalf of the Government he urged the PDP to reconsider their decision (of boycott), joint the House proceedings and make the Government accountable.
Speaker Mubarak Gul said he on behalf of the House also make an appeal to the PDP come and participate in the House proceedings.
Recalling the events of last Wednesday when the PDP had announced boycott of House proceedings for rest of the session, Mr Gul said Mehbooba Mufti, the PDP Legislature Party leader was speaking on the point of order when she suddenly left the House along with party MLAs and since then they had been boycotting the House.
“I called the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting within two hours to discuss the issue but the PDP representative abstained from the meeting, which is not done. I think they (the PDP) should come and join the House”, the Speaker said.
In his reaction, CPM MLA MY Tarigami said the level of House has been coming to a low. “Today look at the Opposition benches. All of them are empty. This is defeat and not a victory. What our detractors want, we have done that’’, he said.
Referring to the appeal of the Law Minister to the PDP to return, Mr Tarigami questioned: “what was the need to say who did what and when’’?
He said the discretion of the Presiding Officer is not infinite or unlimited but by established norms of law.
Referring to today’s BAC meeting, he wanted to know what is agenda of the meeting. “Why should I go there…to eat Kababs. What is the business? We should discuss the urgent issue of the Opposition’s absence’’, he said and added that “it was not the time to score points as to what they did or what we did but to ensure that the House functioned with Opposition’’.
Not sparing the PDP, Mr Tarigami said their resolution to boycott the House proceedings was also against the democratic spirits. “The House is for debate, discussions and evolving consensus and not for boycott’’, he added.
Responding to the concern expressed by three female members in the House-Bimla Luthra, Indu Pawar (both nominated) and Shamima Firdous on yesterday’s aggressive posture of BJP MLA Jugal Kishore towards Social Welfare Minister Sakina Itoo, Speaker Mubarak Gul earlier said he would write to BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, who is also Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha to take action against Mr Kishore.
“I as a Presiding Officer express apology to the women members. Such an incident shouldn’t have happened. I have never seen such an incident. The Chief Minister has expressed his concern. I condemn the incident and will not tolerate violation of discipline and decorum in the House”, Mr Gul said, adding that even legal action can also be explored against the member.
Indu Pawar (Nominated MLA) wanted to know whether Sushma Swaraj would react to “criminal act” committed by Jugal Kishore. She said Ms Swaraj should suspend Mr Kishore from the party and deny him ticket for future election. She added that the incident has created insecurity among the female members.
Shamima Firdous (NC) she had heard the speech of Ms Swaraj on Women’s Day on March 8 in which she had spoken on atrocities against women.
“This year is being observed as year of protection of women. New rules and laws are being made for safety and security of the women. At this time a lawmaker (Jugal Kishore) has raised hand toward the Minister”, Ms Firdous said and added that never in the past such an incident had occurred. She said the Speaker should write to the BJP leadership in New Delhi for taking action against Mr Kishore.
Bimla Luthra (Nominated MLA) said the female MLAs have no safety. She demanded that Mr Kishore should be expelled for six years.
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