SRINAGAR: In a significant development, Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today paid tributes to a former minister who was once associated with separatist ‘Plebiscite Front’ as well as a member of Praja Parishad which advocated complete merger of the State with the Union.
Speaker Kavinder Gupta, while reading out the obituary references, mentioned Mohammad Khalil Jowhar’s association in 1960s with the ‘Plebiscite Front’ which used to advocate holding of a referendum in the State for deciding its future.
He also mentioned Thakur Sehdev’s association with Praja Parishad and RSS which wanted complete merger of the State with the Union.
Controversial Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid said, “Plebiscite was not after all a bad word as the Speaker had mentioned Plebiscite Front in the resolution.”
“Why don’t all of you 86 MLAs become Indians by conviction and use 80 per cent turnout (in Assembly elections) in favour of India in a plebscite,” he asked.
Apparently responding to Rashid’s remarks, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh said the mention of Plebiscite Front and Praja Parishad in the House was “reflective of Indian democracy and its strength”.
“It shows that the strength of our democracy which allows such a thing,” he said. (AGENCIES)
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