Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Jan 28: Playing separatist, former Minister and ruling PDP MLA Javed Mustafa Mir strongly defended echoing the demand for plebiscite on floor of the House even as members of `nationalist’ BJP surprisingly maintained a silence over the unprecedented development and did not make any attempt to counter the same in Legislative Assembly, here today.
The agitated PDP MLA not only defended Independent MLA Engineer Rashid for raising demand of plebiscite for permanent solution of Jammu Kashmir imbroglio but also staged a walkout in protest against Independent MLA Pawan Gupta’s appeal to Speaker Kavinder Gupta for expunging the controversial remarks.
Besides Pawan Gupta, Congress Legislator Party Leader Nawang Rigzin Jora contested Javed Mustafa Mir’s claim of justifying the plebiscite demand but not even a single BJP legislator sought to counter the PDP MLA.
The commotion took place soon after Er Rashid, while participating on grants pertaining to Home Department, said that people in Kashmir would continue to suffer and get killed, irrespective of any party’s rule in the State, till right to self determination is granted to them.
Seeking attention of Speaker Kavinder Gupta, Independent MLA Pawan Gupta stood from his seat and urged the Chair to expunge controversial remark of Engineer Rashid from the House proceedings. “Er Rashid has developed the habit of creating un-necessary controversies and his demand for plebiscite is an insult to Constitution of India as well as Constitution of the State, which clearly say that Jammu Kashmir is an integral part of Indian Union,” Pawan Gupta said and added that he had expected A R Veeri, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, to intervene and seek the controversial remarks be expunged but the latter did not take the cognizance.
Amidst a remark by one of the opposition members that the issue suits PDP and Speaker Kavinder Gupta saying that demand of Pawan Gupta would be given a consideration, former Minister Javed Mustafa Mir stood up from his seat and strongly defended raising the voice for plebiscite in the House.
“How can you expunge his (Er Rashid’s) remark on plebiscite, which is not un-constitutional? Pt Nehru had promised the same to people of Kashmir,” he said and added that he himself had raised the issue in the House during the tenure of last Government.
“I am not indisciplined. You have to expunge my remarks also. How would you do this?”, asked the PDP MLA amidst exchange of words with Pawan Gupta, who kept raising objections to alleged “anti-national remarks.”
As Javed Mustafa sought to justify his point by mentioning about the assurance given by then Prime Minister Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru, Leader of Congress Legislature Party, Nawang Rigzin Jora stood up from his seat and clarified that vacation of PoK from Pakistan army was pre-requisite condition for self determination by people of Jammu Kashmir.
Ironically, when Jora and Pawan Gupta were contesting the PDP MLA’s support to plebiscites, not even a single BJP Legislator sought to register protest against the apparent pro-separatist stand of ruling party member.
“Mera Bhai Mara Gaya, Mera Baap Mara Gaya (My brother was killed, my father also got killed). I am also a victim of this turmoil because of non implementation of the promises to Kashmiris,” he said while reiterating his stand on plebiscite and staged a walkout.
Earlier, Er Rashid had alleged that Indian State was forcing main stream parties, especially NC and PDP to act like extension wings and the real issue was not revocation of AFSPA, PSA, banning pellet guns or restoration of Autonomy but right to self determination.
He said that people of the State were expecting a Razia Sultana in Mehbooba Mufti but Nagpur (RSS headquarters) drew her other way.
Follow our WhatsApp channel