Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: Congress MLAs today staged walkout in protest against alleged failure of the PDP-BJP Coalition Government to airlift the body of a policeman killed in terrorist attack in Shopian area of Kashmir valley on Monday.
As soon as the Legislative Assembly assembled this morning, Congress MLAs started protest accusing Coalition Government of showing disrespect to the martyr.
“We had requested the Government to make special arrangements for airlifting of the martyr’s body to Leh so that his last rites could be performed but even on the third day after the killing, the Government has not been able to airlift the body”, Congress Legislature Party leader, Nawang Rigzin Jora said.
As there was no response from the Government, the agitating Congress MLAs from Ladakh region left their seats and moved towards the Well of the House amidst “Zaalim Sarkar Hai Hai” and “Be-reham Sarkar Hai Hai” slogans.
“Had there been some sort of humane element in this Government, it could have pressed State chopper into service to airlift the body of martyr so as to facilitate his family members to lay it to rest as per the rituals”, Jora further said.
Minister of State for Cooperatives, Chering Dorje said that body could not be shifted due to bad weather and Government would try to airlift the body today itself. He also accused the Congress MLAs of playing politics over the issue.
Even Speaker Kavinder Gupta intervened and tried to convince the agitating Congress MLAs on delay in airlifting of body but their efforts failed to yield any result as ruckus continued to prevail in the House.
Later, Minister for Social Welfare and Forest, Bali Bhagat intervened and informed the House as well as agitating Congress MLAs that body would be airlifted this afternoon in Air India flight.
What special arrangements you have made in this regard? Jora asked, adding “if the dead body would be flown in the routine flight of Air India where is the Government’s intervention which we had sought three days back”. He further said, “we could have done it ourselves…the family could have done it. It is the worst humiliation that you can heap on the family of the martyred policeman”.
On this, Forest Minister said, “our Government gives full respect to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country. Our heart goes for the families of these brave policemen who lost their lives while defending the country”, adding “an officer of the level of Superintendent of Police will accompany the body of the martyr”.
Unsatisfied with the Government’s response, Congress MLAs staged walkout in protest. However, Congress legislator from Banihal, Vikar Rasool did not take part in the walkout.
Talking to media-persons outside the Assembly, Congress Legislature Party leader blamed the present Coalition Government for the spurt in the militancy activities. “PDP’s extra-indulgent attitude to militants and their masters across the border is dangerous for the State”, he said, adding “if this attitude of the coalition continues the security forces will get demoralized”.
In the afternoon, Government airlifted the body of martyr in State chopper. MoS Cooperative Chering Dorje accompanied the body.
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