Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 2: A statutory resolution moved by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh under Article 356 on imposition of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir was stalled in the Rajya Sabha today due to massive uproar by the members from Tamil Nadu on some local issues and was likely to be taken up tomorrow if the House functions.
Rajnath made a statement in the House on necessity to impose President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir though his voice was lost in the din created by the Rajya Sabha members from Tamil Nadu, who were later named by Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu.
Moving the resolution in the Rajya Sabha, which has already been passed by the Lok Sabha, Rajnath gave detailed account of imposition of Governor’s rule in the State on June 19 and President’s rule after six months i.e. December 20 saying the State Government was reduced to minority on June 19 following withdrawal of support to it (by the BJP).
“The Governor had issued proclamation under Section 92 of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution on June 20, 2018 and took powers of the Government,” he said, adding that the Legislative Assembly was kept under suspended animation.
Rajnath said the Assembly was dissolved on November 21 and the Governor sent a recommendation for imposition of President’s rule from December 20, which was accordingly done.
“The Central Government has agreed with report given by the Governor on imposition of President’s rule in the State for a period of six months as there was no other alternative,” the Union Home Minister said, adding that earlier also the State had been under the President’s rule in 1990 and 1996.
He hoped that the Rajya Sabha would approve the proclamation.
However, as soon as the Rajya Sabha Chairman called Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, who happens to be former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, there was fresh uproar from the Tamil Nadu MPs, who continued sloganeering after which the Chairman named them and finally adjourned the House.
Debate on the Statutory Resolution couldn’t be taken up in the Rajya Sabha today. However, it could be taken up tomorrow if the House remains in order.
Meanwhile, altogether 140 terrorists were killed by security forces in Jammu and Kashmir between June and December 2018 during which 426 stone pelting incidents were also reported in the State, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said today.
Replying to a written question in Rajya Sabha, he said 140 terrorists were killed from June 25 to December 5, 2018 in the State, where 119 terrorist violence incidents took place during the period.
The Minister of State for Home said 426 stone pelting incidents took place in Jammu and Kashmir during the said period in which 34 civilians were injured.
As many as 171 security personnel were martyred while combating with terrorists in Kashmir and other parts of the country, guarding borders or serving their duty in 2016, 167 troops were martyred in 2017 and 163 personnel in 2018 (till November).
Ahir said Pakistan-based terror groups continue to train their cadre for underwater strikes and exhort them for ‘Samundari Jihad’ (seaborne jihad) against India.
Replying to another question in Rajya Sabha, he said as per available information, there is no specific input about any terrorist group planning a 26/11 type Mumbai terror attack on ports, cargo ships and oil tankers in the high seas.
“However, available inputs indicated that Pakistan-based terrorist groups continue to train their cadres for underwater strike capabilities in a bid to infiltrate them into India by sea/water ways,” Ahir said.
Ahir also said that “as per available inputs, the Pakistan-based terrorist organization had exhorted its cadres for ‘Samundari Jihad’ against India”.
Ahir said as many as 18 Khalistani terror modules were busted in Punjab and 95 people arrested in the last two years.
“As per available information, the involvement of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) and the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) has come to the notice in a recent incident of a grenade attack on a religious congregation in Amritsar,” he added.
“A total of 18 Khalistani terror modules have been neutralized in Punjab during the last two years, wherein a total of 95 accused persons have been arrested,” he said.
The Punjab Police has arrested two persons involved in the grenade attack in Amritsar and has also identified three other persons, residing in other countries as accused, in respect to whom open dated warrants of arrest have been procured, the Minister said.
The Government had declared KLF as a banned organization under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act last week.
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