J&K oppn shouts during national anthem, guv cuts short speech
PANDEMONIUM Protesting members also get involved in a minor scuffle with House marshals
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir legislature witnessed unprecedented scenes on Monday, as for the first time, opposition members showed disrespect to the national anthem and created commotion during governor NN Vohra’s address.
The entire opposition, including National Conference, Congress, CPI(M) and independent members created ruckus during the governor’s joint address to members of both houses, forcing him to cut short his speech.
The opposition members came with placards, and some wore black clothes to register their protest against this summer’s unrest in the Valley following the killing of Hizbul militant Burhan Wani on July 8.
The trouble began before the address, as NC members distributed placards. They met resistance from PDP MLAs, which led to a heated exchange. The opposition shouted slogans like “Qatil sarkar hai-hai”, and “Stop innocent killings in the Valley”.
When the national anthem was played, the opposition again started shouting. The governor waited for a few moments before starting his address. But the protest did not die down and there was a minor scuffle between marshals and protesting members.
The commotion forced Vohra to cut short his address in 10-odd minutes which he had already halted on three occasions.
NC leader Ali Mohammed Sagar questioned, “Where is the vision of (chief minister) Mehbooba Mufti, where is the political dialogue? This government imposed curfew on Eid, we were not allowed to perform namaz. Around 100 lives were lost in the past few months, 800 people were injured, hundreds of youths were arrested… We
Around 100 lives were lost in the past few months... We have every right to raise voices against people’s sufferings.
have every right to raise voices against people’s sufferings”.
CPI(M) MLA MY Tarigami said, “Martial law is being imposed in the Valley, hundreds are illegally confined in jails. The Opposition is demanding answers to the killings...”
Education minister and PDP leader Naeem Akhtar termed the ruckus “unfortunate”, while the BJP demanded an apology from the opposition for disrespecting the national anthem.
Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti later rejected the opposition demand for an inquiry commission into the recent unrest. She blamed NC and Congress for sowing “seeds” of turmoil in the state, saying their alliance of 1987 had led to weapons being given to the youth of Kashmir.
(With agency inputs) ALI MOHAMMED SAGAR, National Conference leader
Martial law is being imposed in the Valley, hundreds are illegally confined in jails.
The Opposition is demanding answers to the killings...
MY TARIGAMI, CPI(M)legislator