NAVVNEET DUBEY
Jammu: The legislative assembly on Wednesday was adjourned after BJP legislators created ‘commotion’ over alleged police brutality on students seeking National Law University(NLU) in Jammu as well.
The trouble erupted when BJP member RS Pathania raising a point of information shared that students who were protesting for establishment of National Law University(NLU) at Jammu near Civil Secretariat were brutally cane charged by the police. Pathania condemned police action, demanded answers from the government.
Mubarak Gul who was on chair at that time after hearing him, asked a National Conference (NC) MLA Muhammad Shafi Wani to start his speech on demands of grants on Chief Minister’s department but BJP MLAs protested and raised slogans carrying pamphlets in their hands demanding NLU for Jammu. They came near the Well of the House and kept disturbing the proceedings.
Amid high-pitched exchanges, treasury bench members countered the opposition, accusing them of using the issue for political theatrics rather than showing genuine concern for the protesting students. Heated verbal duels followed between the opposition and the treasury benches.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary termed the BJP protest as pre-planned and pointed out how they were able to manage banners on such short notice. ,”Get their narco test done as BJP MLAs are telling lies and they couldn’t be the well wishers of the people of Jammu. How is it possible that they have brought posters inside the House if students have been beaten by police outside right now. They are doing drama.”
“As the police are with the Union Home Minister, these BJP MLAs are protesting against him. They must be clear against whom they are protesting. You have no courage to raise the issue with him. You have no real concern for the students and are only addressing the galleries here,” Choudhary asked.
Minister for transport Satish Sharma also intervened and said, ” BJP MLAs are provoking the students to protest. The police are under Lieutenant Governor but they won’t dare to protest against him. We demand that those cops responsible for cane charge on protesting students should be dismissed”. As the din continued for several minutes, Mubarak Gul, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House for the day.
Earlier in the day, BJP MLAs had joined Jammu University students holding a demonstration for the establishment of an NLU in Jammu. Protests have been underway in Jammu since the announcement that the proposed NLU would be set up in Budgam district of Kashmir, triggering allegations of regional imbalance.
Students took out protest marches on Wednesday, raised slogans against the government and the chief minister, and briefly blocked the Tawi bridge, disrupting traffic for about half-an-hour before the police cleared the area. The protesters later attempted to march towards the Civil Secretariat but were stopped at the gates, leading to brief scuffles between the students and the police.
The controversy began after Chief Minister Abdullah announced the establishment of the NLU in Budgam, prompting students and political leaders in Jammu to demand that the institution be set up in their region to ensure equitable access to quality legal education and opportunities for local students.
