Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 30: Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid was marshalled out of Legislative Assembly while opposition National Conference (NC) members today boycotted the Budget presentation in the Assembly over the delay in submitting of the magisterial probe into the killing of five civilians in Handwara in North Kashmir district of last month.
As Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu rose to present the budget, Rashid demanded statement on the killings in Handwara town of Kashmir which took place during protests against alleged molestation of a girl by an Armyman last month.
Rashid was joined by National Conference and Congress in the demand for a statement from the Government. However, Speaker Kavinder Gupta paid no heed to the opposition protests and Drabu continued with his budget speech.
NC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar said the Government should make a statement on the Handwara incident as it has been directed by the Speaker to do so few days ago. “Two days time was granted by the Speaker to make the statement”, he said.
Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri intervened at this point and asked the opposition members to resume their seats. “Budget speech is going on. I have never seen such protests during budget speech in my career,” he said.
The National Conference MLAs then staged a walk out from the House and did not return for the rest of the day’s proceedings. However, Rashid continued to stay in the well of the house, pressing for his demand.
The Speaker made several pleas to the agitating member to resume his seat but to no avail. Gupta then ordered the Assembly marshals to physically remove Rashid from the house. He was removed from the House and all the entries were closed and he was not allowed to return to the proceedings.
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