Uproar in J&K assembly, NC legislators stage a walkout
Opposition says Gen Rawat’s statement will send a wrong signal in Valley, demands statement from PDPBJP government over issue
JAMMU: The National Conference (NC) on Monday created a ruckus in the Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly over army chief Gen Bipin Rawat’s remarks on education in the state before staging a walkout.
The NC was demanding a statement from the government over the issue.
Gen Rawat on Friday said that social media and government schools in the state were spreading a "disinformation campaign", which in turn was radicalising youths.
The Army chief had also called for "some control" over mosques and madrassas and suggested a "major revamp" of the education system in the state.
The education minister Altaf Bukhari has already criticised the Army chief for his statement and asked him to “stick to his domain instead of meddling in the state's affairs".
As soon as the House assembled here, NC MLA Ali Mohammed Sagar stood up and raised the issue. He sought statement from the chief minister Mehbooba Mufti or any other minister. “Army chief's statement is sad and unwarranted. He should not have given such a statement, which sends a wrong message to Kashmir,” he said.
CPM lawmaker MY Tarigami also criticised the statement and sought a reply from the government.
Amid protests, NC members stood up in their places in protest as they sought a statement from the chief minister over the issue. After their repeated protests were rejected, they walked out of the House.
While the BJP in a statement has asked "education minister to be pragmatic and accept the reality rather than locking horns" with the Army chief.
“Gen Rawat's remarks should be viewed positively and not turned into a political issue,” added the statement.