*Anti-Pak, pro-Indian forces slogans rent the House
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Mar 22: Bedlam gripped the Legislative Assembly today as the legislators of ruling and opposition parties traded charges and resorted to sloganeering over twin terror attacks in Kathua and Samba districts by the Pakistani terrorists. The main Opposition—National Conference even staged walkout after their adjournment motion condemning the attacks was not taken up for debate by the Speaker.
As soon as the proceedings of the House started this morning, all the MLAs of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stood up from their respective seats and resorted to sloganeering condemning twin terror attacks in Kathua and Samba districts.
Amidst anti-Pakistan and pro-Indian forces slogans, they together moved towards the well of the House demanding befitting reply to Pakistan for repeatedly attempting to vitiate peaceful atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir by encouraging and supporting terrorists.
They were countered by National Conference and Congress MLAs, who dubbed BJP’s protest as “drama” and remarked, “on one side they are in Government while as on the other side they are seeking action against Pakistan”. “The attacks are the gifts from the terrorists, who were given credit for peaceful elections by none else than the Chief Minister”, Congress MLA from Leh, Rigzin Jora said.
Though BJP legislators returned to their respective seats on the directions of Speaker Kavinder Gupta yet protests from National Conference and Congress MLAs continued, who sought reply from the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for his remarks that non-state actors were involved in two terror attacks. “I have moved an adjournment motion on the attacks and Chief Minister’s remarks and there should be a debate on the issue”, National Conference MLA, Devender Singh Rana said.
However, there was no response from the Chair and protest from the Opposition parties continued to disrupt proceedings of the House. Keeping in view continuous pandemonium, Speaker allowed some MLAs to speak on the terror attacks.
“It is unfortunate that Chief Minister is not ready to describe those who carried out attacks as terrorists”, Congress Legislature Party leader, Nawang Rigzin Jora said, adding “these attacks are gifts from the terrorists, whom Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had thanked for peaceful elections in the State soon after taking over as Chief Minister”.
“We want to know what is the factual position behind these attacks as both the Coalition partners are giving conflicting statements. One is saying that non-state actors are involved while as another is directly accusing Pakistan and ISI for the terror attacks”, the CLP leader said.
PDP Member and Minister for Haj and Auqaf, Abdul Rehman Veeri, while countering the Opposition charges, said, “this is not for the first time that such attacks have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir. This is not a new incident….during your tenure too State witnessed several such incidents”.
He was supported by Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Basharat Bukhari, who said, “we have no objection to have debate on the adjournment motion moved by the National Conference but it is unfortunate that they have resorted to mud-slinging on the issue”. As protest from the National Conference legislators continued, Mr Bukhari remarked, “you handled the affairs of the State for 60 years and you are responsible for the militancy…..you people ruined the State and unaccounted bodies of innocent people in the graveyards are the outcome of your policies”.
“Everybody knows who was the creator of militancy…. people are well aware of this. By shouting you cannot change the facts”, remarked NC’s Ali Mohammad Sagar. The pandemonium came to end only after Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed intervened and made a statement and requested that House should pass a resolution condemning the attacks.
However, National Conference insisted that there should be debate on the adjournment motion. As there was no response from the Chair, all the National Conference MLAs led by Omar Abdullah staged walkout after protesting over the issue near the well of the House.
Later, interacting with the media-persons, “I had brought a resolution in the House to debate the issue of the twin attacks and contradictory statements by the BJP, the Government and the security officers. Even Chief Minister has blamed non-state actors responsible for the attacks. What are these non-state actors. We want reply from the Chief Minister to identify the non-state actors”, Devender Singh Rana said.
“While Chief Minister is blaming non-state actors, his Deputy Chief Minister is blaming Pakistan, another BJP Minister is blaming Army and BSF, and Army and Police are giving contradictory statements”, Rana said, adding “we have the right to know the factual position”.
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