Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 20: The opposition Congress members were today marshaled out when they along with NC members held strong protest in the ‘well’ of the Upper House over the issue of terrorists attack at Rajbagh Police Station in Kathua this morning, disrupting proceedings in the House for about 17 minutes.
Both coalition (PDP and BJP) members and the opposition National Conference and Congress members traded charges at high pitch. Amidst noisy scenes nothing was clearly audible and the repeated attempts of the Chairman Legislative Council, Amrit Malhotra failed to restore calm in the House. The members were demanding adjournment of the House and also discussion in the House over this important development of terrorist attack in Kathua. They alleged that BJP and PDP have failed to provide security to the people and after R S Pura terrorist attack, this was yet another attack during this regime.
The BJP members who always used to raise such issues related to security forcefully in the legislature, were today seen opposing and silencing the voice of such legislators who were speaking against terror. They too, joined their coalition PDP members to fire salvo on the National Conference and the Congress. Both sides raised series of allegations and counter allegations against each other. PDP member Surinder Choudhary asked who is responsible for the killings of 120 innocent people in Kashmir during 2011 agitation. The NC leadership owes a reply to the people of this State. Another PDP member shouted who killed Haji Yousuf ? Is there any reply with the NC members.
The clash between the opposition and ‘coalition’ members erupted immediately after the House started its proceedings today at 11 am. All the NC and Congress members including Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Ajay Sadhotra, Showkat Ganai, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, Qaisar Jamshed Lone, Dr B A Veeri, Ghulam Qadir Pardesi, Ali Mohd Dar-all from NC and Jugal Kishore, Ravinder Sharma, Naresh Gupta, Ghulam Nabi Monga and Jahangir Mir stood up from their seats and sought to draw the attention of the Chairman towards the issue related to terrorist attack in Kathua early today and killings of several innocent persons including cops.
They alleged that Government has failed to protect citizens and demanded a reply from the State Home Minister. They also pleaded the Chairman for the adjournment of the House and holding of special discussion on the issue.
Ravinder Sharma pointed out that terror and talks can not go together. He pointed out that one of the BJP Ministers in the Centre in a statement on TV channel this morning has said that attack in Kathua is an eye opener for those supporting revocation of Armed Forces Special Powers Act. On the one side BJP led Govt is pursuing talks with the Pakistan and on the other hand Pakistan is pushing terrorists on this side to kill our people. These double standards of the BJP led Government have been exposed. They have also been facilitating talks with the Hurriyat. Under such circumstances they should clear their stand.
Another Congress MLC Jugal Kishore pointed out that Mufti Mohd Sayeed in his first address to media after taking over as Chief Minister gave credit to Pakistan, militants and the Hurriyat for high turn out and smooth polling. The Pakistan supported terrorists are launching attack on the innocent civilians. What the Mufti Sayeed want to say now over this ? They are harping on the revocation of AFSPA and the terrorists are killing innocents. Both BJP and PDP owe reply to the people. They can not shirk responsibility.
Upon this, the PDP and BJP members also stood up and started launching counter attack. The process of attacks and counter attacks continued for some time. The Chairman rejected the demand of adjournment of the House. Then Dy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh intervened and asked the chairman to give statement on the incident. While narrating the incident, he informed the House that 2-3 armed terrorists entered Raj Bagh Police Station at 6.18 am today and shot dead Santry on duty first at the main gate. They also killed a civilian and caused injuries to 10 other persons including policemen. The IGP and DIG were on the spot along with police force and operation was going on. Total three persons have been killed so far. They have entered Munshi’s room in the Police Station and were firing on the security men from inside. 19 persons have been rescued from Thana.
Even after this statement, the Congress and NC members continued protest. Jugal Kishore pointed out that incident has taken place in Kathua and Dy CM who hails from Billawar (Kathua) should be there on the spot and not in the House to give statements. The Congress members including Jugal Kishore, Ravinder Sharma, Naresh Gupta, Sham Lal Bhagat and Ghulam Nabi Monga moved to the well of the House and started protest and shouted slogans against ruling Government. Two other Congress members Jahangir Mir and Bashir Ahmed magray stayed back at their seats and did not join their party members. The Chairman then ordered the watch and ward staff to marshal them out. All the five protesting Congress members were then Marshalled out from the well at around 11.17 am. The proceedings were disrupted for about 17 minutes and then Question Hour was resumed. The Chairman also rejected another adjournment motion moved by NC member Sajjad Kichloo on the issue of protesting temporary teachers sitting on fast at Press Club.
Dr Shehnaz Ganai from NC, waving Daily Excelsior newspaper drew the attention of the chairman towards report related to tragic accident in Ramban in which seven innocent people were killed due to rash driving. She also demanded serious discussion on the issue in the House and sought remedial measures for keeping check on such mishaps. The Chairman, however, disallowed.
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