Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 22: Noisy scenes and heated exchange of words amidst allegations and counter allegations between National Conference and PDP members as well as a vociferous protest by Jammu MLAs against controversial remark by Congress member G M Saroori today marked discussion in the Lower House on Demand of Grants for the Departments under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s charge.
The acrimonious arguments invited repeated intervention of the Speaker Mubarak Gul who expunged the controversial remarks made by Saroori over secular character of the State and PDP MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat on Sheikh Mohd Abdullah and some other leaders in their respective speeches on the grants.
Initially, the trouble erupted when Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, in his address, was making past references with regard to Sheikh Mohd Abdullah and some other leaders and the National Conference MLA Mohd Akbar Lone stood up from his seat objecting to the remarks on the persons who were no more members of the House or even in this world.
As the PDP MLA sought to justify his references with the claim that he did not label any allegation against the persons, Mr Lone vociferously reminded the former that Muzaffar Hussain Beig had not contested the case of Maqbool Bhat despite taking money for the same.
“A Lawyer could have his limitations but what about the Chief Minister (Sheikh Mohd Abdullah), who had signed warrant of death (of Maqbool Bhat),” retorted Nizam, triggering allegations and counter allegations between the two MLAs, who were soon joined by other members of their parties notwithstanding repeated intervention of the Speaker to pacify the situation.
It led to a complete din in the House during which members of both sides were heard hurling even personal allegations against each other.
Joining the spar, Rural Development Minister Ali Mohd Sagar of NC claimed that even PDP members privately accused Nizam-ud-Din Bhat of getting diverted from the real issue while Akbar Lone alleged that the PDP member was matric fail.
The uproar continued for around 20 minutes amidst remarks like ‘Mirchi Kayon Lagi’, ‘I hate you’ and ‘Yeh Bakta Hai, Bakte Raho’ etc.
As Nizam Bhat reminded the NC member that Kafeel-ur-Rehman had also labeled allegations against PDP leaders, Minister for Animal & Sheep Husbandry Nazir Gurezi of NC claimed that the latter had talked on issues while Speaker Mubarak Gul also said that he (Kafeel) did not name any person.
Amidst the uproar, Finance Minister A R Rather stood up from his seat and said that a person, who was not a member of the House and could not defend his position, should not be accused of any charge. “Moreover, the persons who are no more in this world, should be spared and I appeal the Chair to expunge remarks against them,” he added.
Though Nizam Bhat again sought to justify his point by stating that names of Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru and other leaders are also mentioned various times in the House, Speaker Mubarak Gul expunged the controversial remarks.
As PDP MLA Basharat Bukhari complained to the Chair that they were not allowed to speak in the House, which belongs to all members irrespective of party affiliation, the Speaker quipped, “this (House) is not Akhara (wrestling ground).”
Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the House again when BJP and JKNPP members strongly objected to a controversial remark on secular character of the State of Jammu and Kashmir by Congress MLA G M Saroori during his speech on the grants.
As soon as Saroori made the controversial remark, BJP Legislature Party Leader Ashok Khajuria stood up and vociferously raised his objection maintaining that J&K was a secular State.
Other members of BJP as well as JKNPP also stood from their seats and joined Khajuria in protest against the controversial remark even as Saroori admitted that J&K belongs to everyone with equal treatment to all religions.
Jagdish Spolia was seen aggressively countering Saroori and asking the latter to tender apology.
The order was restored after Speaker Mubarak Gul expunged the controversial remarks from proceeding of the House.
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