Unhappy Opposition asks for judicial probe

BIVEK MATHUR

JAMMU: The Legislative Assembly plunged into pandemonium on Monday, as opposition demanded a judicial probe into the civilian killings in Kashmir and discussion in the house over series of militant attacks in the state, including the one in Akhnoor, wherein three people were killed.
Moments after the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti concluded her reply over the Kashmir killings and wide range of other issues highlighted by National Conference Legislature Party leader Omar Abdullah, entire opposition joined the demand for a judicial probe into the Kashmir Killings.
Meanwhile, NC legislators from Nagrota and Bishnah constituency, Devender Singh Rana and Kamal Arora, sought a separate discussion in the House over series of militant attacks including the in Uri, Nagrota, Chamlyal and the one in Akhnoor today.
When government did not come up with a statement, NC Legislators-Abdul Majeed Larmi and Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar entered the Well of the House and started raising slogans like “RSS Sarkar Hai Hai”, “Coalition Sarkar-Goli Sarkar, Pellet Sarkar”, “Yeh Hukoomat Baat Sune Goli Se, Goli Se”. They were given chorus by other Congress and NC MLAs including Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gull, Mohammad Akbar Lone, GM Saroori, Devender Singh Rana, Rigzin Jora, Kamal Arora, Vikar Rasool and other MLAs.
Speaking on the issue, NC MLA, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that it was unfortunate that unlike former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba did not own the responsibility for the “mass killings” in Kashmir.
He said, “Mehbooba Ji is misleading the house by hiding behind the 2010 killings.” “We want this government order a judicial probe led by a retired SC judge,” he said.
The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Rigzin Jora also wanted the Chief Minister to own the killings like former CM Omar Abdullah did.
GM Saroori, MLA Inderwal also sought a time-bound judicial probe into civilian killings.
With government repeating that it has already ordered a SIT and announced compensation for the affected people, Hakim Mohammad Yasin said, “If there was no mistake on the end of PDP-BJP government in Kashmir, why did Mehbooba Mufti order a SIT?”
To Devender Singh Rana and Kamal Arora’s repeated pleas of discussing the militant attacks in assembly, Speaker said, “Why the opposition is behaving like kids?”
Rana took strong exception of Speaker terming opposition’s act as childish saying, “You are not supposed to talk like that. How could you? You are not Speaker of BJP or RSS. You are the Speaker of this august House.”
Rana even sought reply from Abdul Rehman Veeri, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, over the Speaker’s “irresponsible utterances.”
“Tell him, he is not speaker of RSS or BJP. Who have you made the Speaker?” Rana said while seeking reply of Veeri.
In the meantime, a scuffle broke out between BJP Minister Choudhary Sukhnandan and Usman Majid of Congress when the later mocked the former for being “expelled” from the council of ministers.
When Speaker allowed BJP MLA Ravinder Raina to speak on Governor Address, NC MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi along with some other MLAs snatched his mike, creating ruckus in the house.
When PDP MLA from Noorabad constituency Abdul Majeed Paddar along with other MLAs came to the defense of Ravinder Raina, another scuffle broke out between Paddar and Larmi.
Following the brawl, the Speaker ordered Larmi to be marshaled out from the house.