Srinagar: Legislative Council of State Legislature today witnessed ruckus over the anti-Muslim remarks of radical Hindu outfit, VHP, leader Sadhvi Prachi, forcing State Government to make statement and term the remarks as wrong.
The uproar broke out minutes after the House proceedings began Wednesday morning. The members of NC and Congress while displaying newspaper copies in the House said that VHP leader has made an anti-Muslim remark and demanded condemnation from the Council.
In the meantime, the members from ruling BJP stood from their benches and countered the NC and Congress. The BJP leaders told the Opposition members not to vitiate the atmosphere of the State on the basis of statement of VHP leader published in the newspapers.
There were heated arguments between the members of BJP and opposition NC and Congress even as Chairman of the House, Haji Anayat Ali, urged Opposition members to sit down and raise the issue during Zero Hour. However, they didnt pay any heed to the Chairman and spar continued, forcing Education Minister Nayeem Akhtar to make the statement in the House.
Akhtar, who is also the spokesperson of PDP-BJP coalition government in the State, said whosoever has made anti-Muslim remarks is wrong. Whosoever said it, it is wrong. Muslims are a part of the country and it is incomplete without them. The Muslims have to live in the country as equal stakeholders, he said.
He told the members not to raise such issues in the House which will divide it as the State is already facing multiple problems. Our state has many problems and we want to grapple them. We should not be provoked into a divisive tit for tat match, he said. The Ministers statement calm down the situation in the House.
Pertinently, the VHP leader Sadhvi had said that time to make India free of Muslims.
Er Rashid marshalled out, again
Awami Itehad Supremo and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Langate Engineer Abdul Rashid on Wednesday was marshalled out from State Assembly after he raised the issue of Public Safety Act (PSA) that was slapped on a Jammu Muslim leader.
As soon as House began its proceedings, the MLA Rasheed got up and asked why Chairman Muslim Development Forum Syed Shabir Ahmad Shah of Jevan Shah Mohalla Jammu has been booked under PSA.
Rasheed wanted government to make a statement at the floor of House over his detention and sought his immediate release. However, the Speaker Kavindra Gupta reportedly said that Shabir was booked for being anti-national and anti-peace irked Rashed.
If police could book Mr Shabir Shah, a prominent Muslim leader, why couldnt it arrest and book under PSA those criminals involved in Kishtwar riots and are seen roaming free with BJP ministers from social functions to PM Office, Rasheed asked.
The fact of the matter is that Jammu Muslims have been left at the mercy of right wing Hindu forces and state police has been strictly directed to implement Hindutva agenda. Why doesnt government book those involved in discretion of masques and shrines in Jammu province or those threatening Muslims by carrying out guns and other weapons during processions in Jammu, he said.
The Rashids remarks angered BJP MLAs and the two sides exchanged heated arguments with each other. Later, the MLA Langate was marshaled out on the directions of Speaker Kavindra Gupta.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
ACT NOW |
MONTHLY | Rs 100 | |
YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |