House adjourned as legislators seek apology
No such region exists, area was Chandrabhaga division: Sunil
Sanjeev Pargal
Jammu, Feb 4: Seven Alliance MLAs from twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch today created ruckus in the Assembly seeking apology from Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma for what they called his remarks against “Pir Panjal region” even as the LoP stood by his remarks saying such a region doesn’t exist in Jammu and Kashmir and he will not apologize.
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Slogans by the MLAs, who belong to ruling National Conference and its alliance partner Congress besides two Independents, and counter slogans by the BJP resulted into ruckus in the House soon after the Question Hour ended at 11 AM prompting Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.
Deputy CM Surinder Choudhary and Minister Javed Rana, who are MLAs from Nowshera and Mendhar, Javed Choudhary (Budhal) and Aijaz Jan (Poonch), all from NC; Iftikhar Ahmed (Rajouri, Congress) and two Independents Muzaffar Khan (Thannamandi) and Choudhary Akram (Surankote) were on their feet as soon as the Question Hour ended seeking apology from LoP Sunil Sharma, BJP MLA from Paddar.
Of eight MLAs from Rajouri and Poonch districts, BJP has only one Thakur Randhir Singh (Sunderbani).
“The Pir Panjal range has given sacrifices. They faced Kabailies, militants and sacrificed their lives. The LoP has used abusive language against them and should apologize,” Dy CM Surinder Choudhary said from his seat. Javed Rana was also seen protesting while other MLAs were near the podium shouting slogans like ‘Pir Panjal Zindabad and Jive-Jive Pir Panjal’ which were countered by the BJP MLAs with ‘Jammu Kashmir Zindabad’. The Deputy CM then twice shouted `Hindustan Zindabad’.
Minister Satish Sharma, who represents Chhamb, also joined the issue saying his father (Madan Lal Sharma) was loved by the people of Rajouri and Poonch and every second man is serving the Army in border areas. Charging the BJP with “dividing people” and “sowing seeds of hate”, Sharma too demanded apology from the LoP.
The Deputy Chief Minister declared that they won’t relent till the LoP apologizes.
As the Speaker’s repeated advise to MLAs to return to the seats failed, he adjourned the House after nearly 15 minutes of pandemonium for 15 minutes.
The House resumed sitting after 38 minutes and proceedings started normally though the issue resurfaced in the House later in a normal manner.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Sunil Sharma said that people should read ancient texts to see the names of Rajouri, Poonch and the Doda belt.He objected to referring Rajouri and Poonch districts as part of the Pir Panjal region, asserting that no such region exists in Jammu and Kashmir, which he described as a single, undivided unit.
“There is no such region in Jammu and Kashmir. Attempts are being made to create separate regional identities, which challenge the historical and cultural unity of Jammu and Kashmir,” Sharma said.
He said historical and Puranic references should be consulted, as the area was earlier described as the “Chandrabhaga division”. He accused certain elements of trying to “erase or alter” the identity of the region by promoting separate regional nomenclatures.
Sharma maintained that Jammu and Kashmir was one entity formed through the efforts of Maharaja Hari Singh and termed the present-day region as his legacy. He said that if any reorganisation or official nomenclature was to be adopted, it was the Government’s responsibility to do so formally.
The BJP leader also criticized what he termed as attempts to project regions such as Pir Panjal and Chenab valley as separate entities, saying such moves could lead to unnecessary divisions.
He further said it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure the smooth functioning of the House and objected to ministers asking the opposition to apologize during the proceedings.
Sharma alleged that some parties were acting to suit their political interests and reiterated that Jammu and Kashmir remains an undivided unit.
Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, Congress MLA from Rajouri Iftikhar Ahmed said that unless the LoP does not tender an apology, they will not allow the House to run. “He has disrespected the people of Pir Panjal,” he said, referring to the Poonch and Rajouri districts.
He said the people of Pir Panjal have laid down their lives while defending the borders and he has “insulted the martyrs” of Pir Panjal.
National Conference MLA Aijaz Jan also demanded an apology from the LoP on the Floor of the House. “He has hurt the people. We will be on protests till he apologizes. We will not tolerate insult to those people defending the borders of this country,” he said. The MLAs from Rajouri and Poonch also protested outside the Legislative Assembly complex, seeking an apology from the LoP. The MLAs from the twin districts — Aijaz Jan of the National Conference, Iftikhar Ahmed of the Congress, Javaid Iqbal, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan and Choudhary Akram — staged the dharna outside the House, raising slogans in favour of Pir Panjal.
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