Jammu: The Legislative Council lawmakers of National Conference (NC) and Congress on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Upper House amid noisy scenes over the state governments’ failure in stopping civilian killings. They also expressed anger over the death of a 20-year-old innocent youth allegedly in firing by government forces following the killing of a militant in Khudwani area of Kulgam district on Tuesday.
The opposition members soon after the House proceedings started shouting slogans against the PDP-BJP coalition government for its alleged failure to stop innocent killings, and shortly trooped into the well of the House.
After raising slogans ‘Stop innocent killings and stop human rights violations’ for nearly an hour, the entire opposition staged a walkout despite repeated assurances by the Agriculture Minister Ghulam Nabi Lone Hanjura on behalf of the government who it said had already ordered a probe into the incident. But the opposition legislatures denied government reply and alleged that it had failed on all fronts be it continuous civilian killings and HR violations in Kashmir valley since for the last 4 days.”
The House witnessed verbal dual between PDP MLCs and opposition members and targeting each other over the issue.
NC MLC Sajjad Kichloo while apprising the House alleged that innocent killings are continuing unabated in Kashmir and said, “A youth was killed yesterday in Kulgam. How long will we continue to carry the coffins of our youth? We wanted the government to allow a discussion on the prevailing situation in the state but the government overlooks this serious issue.”
“If innocent killings continue, what is the fun of our sitting in the Upper House,” he added and alleged that this government has no answer to the queries of the opposition as it had failed on all fronts.”
Dissatisfied over the government reply, Sajjad Kichloo apprised the House that firstly the minister had given one statement and simultaneously he has changed his statement over denying by saying the youth was killed by forces-a stone pelter. “Both are controversial statements and we want obvious clarification from the government either the youth-a stone pelter or innocent civilian who was killed in the firing yesterday.”
Replying to the allegation levelled by the NC MLC Kichloo, Hanjura further apprised the Upper House and said, “The government headed by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti had yesterday expressed deep anguish over the killing of Khalid Hussain Dar of Redwani Payeen and directed the district administration to conduct a probe to know the reasons of the killing. In this context, Deputy Commissioner Kulgam has been asked to initiate a magisterial inquiry to ascertain the facts in the case, and submit a report within two weeks. The government has also condemned over the killing of youth.”
Intervening into the issue, Minister for Public Works Naeem Akhtar said the issue can’t be discussed on the streets and urged the MLC Kichloo to wait for the report. “Once the report is received by the government, the same will be apprised to opposition members as well as in the House to clear whether the youth-a stone pelter or innocent civilian.”
Later, at around 12 noon, the opposition lawmakers of NC and Congress staged walk out to register their protest over unsatisfied reply at government end.
