Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 5: The Legislative Assembly today saw ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Opposition National Conference (NC) on the same page on the issues of talks with Pakistan and ceasefire violations while PDP’s coalition partner, BJP was completely isolated on its demand for passing “condemnation resolution” against Pakistan for abetting ceasefire violations on the borders, leading to martyrdom of four more Army soldiers yesterday.
Click here to watch video
No other political party or even the BJP Ministers supported demand of their party MLAs, who created massive uproar in the Assembly during Zero Hour raising “anti-Pakistan slogans” and demanding that the House passed a Resolution to condemn Pakistan for its activities on the borders, which have been causing problems to the people living in forward areas.
As the Assembly resumed after 10 minutes adjournment ordered by Speaker Kavinder Gupta following pandemonium in the House created during Zero Hour with slogans and counter slogans by BJP and Opposition members, ruling PDP MLA Javaid Beig said that instead of provoking Pakistan, the House should appeal to both the countries to start a dialogue to resolve outstanding issues.
“This is a very sensitive issue. Two countries are face-to-face with each other. Both countries are suffering losses in cross-border firing. We should appeal to both the nations (India and Pakistan) to maintain peace. We shouldn’t do anything that aggravate situation,” Beig said, indirectly opposing the demand voiced by his Alliance partner, BJP’s MLAs, who were seeking passing of Resolution condemning Pakistan for its acts on the borders.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri also batted strongly for the resumption of a ‘peace and reconciliation process’ between India and Pakistan
Veeri supported dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad to restore everlasting peace in the region.
“This issue was raised in this House before as well. Our stand is that peace and reconciliation is the only way, dialogue is the only way,” Veeri said.
He added that the process initiated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee should be taken forward for everlasting peace.
National Conference Legislature Party (NCLP) leader and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah immediately reacted and supported the stand taken by Veeri and Javed Beig, the PDP Minister and MLA respectively.
Omar said: “We support the statement of Veeri and the young Beig who are right in their approach. On our side, we should not do anything that will lead to further deterioration of the situation”. He rued that it had become a habit for politicians to worsen the atmosphere through their statements.
“In my opinion, if a resolution is passed in this House, it should be that the people of Jammu and Kashmir demand both the Governments to initiate the dialogue process so that peace is restored along the borders,” Omar said.
He demanded strict implementation of the 2003 ceasefire agreed upon by India and Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB).
The NC leader said that the Vajpayee Government in consultation with Pakistan gave a ceasefire agreement which needs to be restored.
The same stand taken by NC and PDP left the BJP MLAs high and dry, who were demanding passing of condemnation resolution against Pakistan. After the PDP stand, they were left with no option but to take back their seats leading to restoration of normal business in the Assembly.
Earlier as soon as the Zero Hour started, the BJP MLAs were on their feet shouting slogans like ‘Pakistan Murdabad’ and ‘Pakistan Hai Hai’. The NC and Congress members took up the issue of suffering of the people living along Line of Control (LoC) and International Border (IB).
NC MLA Devender Singh Rana blamed the BJP Government at Centre and State for miseries of the border people and charged BJP MLAs’ with enacting drama in the House.
The Congress members charged the BJP Government with failure and countered BJP’s slogans with `Narendra Modi Sarkaar Hai Hai’ and ‘Buzdil Sarkaar Hai Hai’.
Some of the National Conference members including Devender Singh Rana and Independent MLA Pawan Gupta trooped into Well of the House. Trying to expose PDP-BJP differences on the issue, Rana demanded that let the Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) brings a resolution. There were heated exchanges between BJP and Opposition NC and Congress members a number of times, leading to slogan and counter sloganeering prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House for 10 minutes to restore order.
Again when the House resumed, National Conference MLA Devender Singh Rana and Pawan Gupta remained in the Well for some time till the Parliamentary Affairs Minister made a statement on floor of the House.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Devender Rana saluted the sacrifices of the Army jawans and accused BJP of playing politics over the “dead bodies of the jawans”.
“We raised the issue of continuous firing and shelling along LoC and IB wherein our soldiers are getting martyred every day and the civilian population is facing the brunt of the escalation of tension,” Rana said.
“Who is answerable to the families of soldiers who are on a daily basis getting martyred in the defence of the nation? The civilian population is under constant fear. It is our duty to create an atmosphere so that peace returns to the LoC and IB,” Rana, the NC MLA from Nagrota, said.
However, BJP MLA from Nowshera Ravinder Raina, who demanded a resolution to condemn Pakistan for ceasefire violations, later told reporters that the neighbouring country had targeted an Army post after the Army thwarted its attempt to push terrorists in the State. He said Pakistan army has also used missiles to target the Indian posts yesterday in which four soldiers were martyred.
“We want the terrorist training camps in Pakistan be bombarded by Indian Air Force. Pakistan is a terror country and it cannot understand the language of diplomacy and democracy,” Raina said.
Earlier when Question Hour started, National Conference MLA and former Minister Mian Altaf also raised the issue of border firing, killing of four Army soldiers yesterday and sufferings of the people living in the forward areas.
In a statement made in the Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri said the Government has taken all the possible measures to avoid loss of life and property in the Pakistani shelling along the LoC in the State.
He said that alternate arrangements for boarding and lodging have also been put in place to meet the situation arising out of frequent shelling from across the border.
Giving details of the latest incidents of cross-border firing, the Minister said that four Army personnel including an officer were killed, while two civilians and three Jawans including a BSF personnel were injured in fresh ceasefire violation along the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch districts yesterday.
In Rajouri, Pakistan army started indiscriminate firing in Balakote sector resulting in the killing of four Army personnel – Captain Kapil Kundu of Gurugram, Rifleman Ramavtar of Gawalior, Rifleman Subham Singh of Kathua and Hawaldar Roshan Lal of Samba, while one Army jawan, Lance Naik Iqbal Ahmed, sustained injuries, he said.
In another ceasefire violation in Bandi Chechian sector in Poonch, he said one Army jawan, Sepoy Kishore Kumar and two civilians, Yaseen Arif and Gulnaz Akhter, sustained injuries.
Veeri said the ceasefire violation was also reported from Sunderbani where one BSF personnel, Assistant Sub-Inspector Ajab Singh, sustained injuries.
He was immediately shifted to Army Hospital, Satwari for treatment.
He said firing was also reported from Bhawani and Lam sector but no loss of life was reported.
“The respective district administrations are taking all possible measures to avoid loss of life and property.
“Alternate arrangements for boarding and lodging have also been put in place for the affected population,” Veeri said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
