Jammu, Jan 9: Opposition members in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council on Tuesday disrupted the proceedings in house of elders against “participation” of LC chairman in PDP-BJP coalition meeting last week.
As the House assembled for the day, all opposition members stood up and raised the issue regarding participation of Legislative Council Chairman Haji Anayat Ali in the meeting hosted by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. They alleged that he had lowered the sanctity of the House including violating protocol of constitutional post. They resorted to protests over the issue and sought reply from the LC Chairman.
The members later jumped into the well of the House and created ruckus and disrupted the Question Hour proceeding over the Chairman attending the meeting.
Earlier, the opposition members led by leader of opposition Sajjad Kichloo (NC) demanded reply and alleged it was not a simple issue which can be brushed aside. “It is the issue involving sanctity of the House and should not be compromised,” they said and added, “It is unprecedented. This has not happened in the past.”
After over half-an-hour of protests and sloganeering, the LC Chairman replied to the opposition and said that he had taken part in the “dinner” and “if it was wrong, he would not repeat it.”
The Chairman said he had gone there not to take part in the meeting but to meet Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over an invitation to take part in an event to mark the death anniversary of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. So there was no question of compromising sanctity of the House.
Not satisfied with the reply, NC and Congress members staged a walkout from the House. But when the House started proceeding over Motion of Thanks on Governor’s Address, BJP legislature Ajat Shatru intervened and urged upon the Chairman to request the Opposition members to come back to their seats.
The Chairman later said that he would not take part in any such meeting in the future.
