Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 28: The Government today said situation was well under control in Kupwara district though it admitted that curfew has been imposed under the jurisdiction of Lalpora police station and restrictions in other parts of the district in anticipation of trouble during Friday prayers. The Government justified the restrictions saying they had become necessary to avoid any untoward incident.
The Government made a statement in the Legislative Assembly on the directions of Deputy Speaker Sartaj Mandi following uproar by the PDP members at the start of Question Hour especially by MLA Lolab Abdul Haq Khan and Independent MLA from Langet Engineer Abdul Rashid.
The House also witnessed uproarious scenes over leakage of 12th class question paper prompting Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone to order a probe into the leakage.
The members of different political parties from the Opposition were on their feet as the Question Hour started with PDP members alleging that people have been confined to their houses for the past five days due to imposition of curfew and restrictions in parts of Kupwara district.
PDP Deputy Legislature Party leader Abdul Rehman Veeri said people were not being allowed to come out of their houses for past five days in Lolab. “This is a serious matter. The Government should lift curfew and restrictions to allow people to purchase essential items and offer Friday prayers,’’ he said.
CPM leader MY Tarigami and PDF member Hakim Mohammad Yasin, former Minister were also seen standing on their benches supporting the demand for lifting restrictions in Kupwara. However, the PDP members moved to the front row while Haq Khan and Engineer Rashid trooped into middle of the House charging the Government with not even allowing the people to offer Friday prayers by imposing curfew and restrictions.
Haq Khan took strong exception to a statement made in the Legislative Assembly by Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo on Wednesday that there was no curfew or restrictions in Lolab. “Even today there was total curfew and restrictions. The people have been confined to their houses. This is ridiculous,’’ he said. Engineer Rashid also continued shouting in the middle of the House. The PDP members were heard shouting ‘Curfew Sarkaar Hai Hai’’.
Simultaneously, Jammu State Morcha (JSM) MLA from Bishnah Ashwani Sharma was also on his feet saying today’s paper of 12th class had been leaked.
“First, there were large scale irregularities in Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE). Now, the School Education Board exam has been leaked. This Government is playing with career of the students,’’ Mr Sharma shouted.
Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone immediately responded to Mr Sharma’s statement saying the Government would asked the Chief Secretary to get the matter pertaining to paper leakage probed and punish whosoever was responsible (for leaking the paper).
“We will take action in the matter,’’ he said.
While the PDP members continued shouting seeking lifting of curfew and other restrictions on movement of people in Kupwara district, ruling NC MLA and former Minister Surjit Singh Slathia and NPP MLAs Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal were also on their feet saying complete insanitation was prevailing in the towns due to 10 days long indefinite strike by the safai karamcharis.
Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni, who was in the Chair today in the absence of Speaker Mubarak Gul, told Mr Slathia that he was a treasury bench member. “How the House would run if the ruling party members also start protesting’’? Mr Madni asked.
Mr Slathia said he has repeatedly been agitating over the strike of safai karamcharis for past 10 days. “There is no cleanliness in the towns. A threat of epidemic was looming large,’’ he added.
The NPP members—Harshdev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal also sought the Government intervention on the strike of safai karamcharis. However, they cooled down after the Deputy Speaker directed the Government to address the issues of safai karamcharis to end their strike.
The PDP members continued their protests till Mr Madni directed the Government that the Government would come out with a statement on prevailing situation in Kupwara in this sitting of the House.
In his statement in the Assembly during Zero Hour, Minister of State for Home Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo admitted that curfew has been imposed today under the jurisdiction of Lalpora police station while restrictions have been imposed in other parts of Kupwara district in anticipation of protests by the people after Friday prayers.
“The District Magistrate, Kupwara has imposed curfew in Lalpora police station jurisdiction and restriction in other parts of Kupwara district to save lives and property of the people and avoid any untoward incident,’’ he said, adding that the situation was well under control in Kupwara district.
Mr Kitchloo said despite restrictions, the ambulances etc were moving.
Not satisfied with the statement of the Minister, PDP MLA from Lolab staged a walk-out in the House describing the Government as ‘insensitive’.
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