PDP holds protest in JK Assembly

Jammu, March 1 (Scoop News) -Legislators of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) today held protest in the Legislative Assembly after Speaker Mubarak Gul refused to accept their demand of the suspending normal business of the House to discuss the grave situation arising out of the fallout of the secretive execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru and public outrage on continued silence of the State Government on return of his mortal remains to his family.

Although PDP had moved an Adjournment Motion on Thursday to suspend the normal business to discuss this issue today, yet the Speaker was adamant to continue the business. PDP legislators repeatedly pleaded before the Speaker to accept their Motion and suspend Question Hour but their request was rejected by the Speaker. PDP legislators resorted to shouting slogans in favour of their demand. The legislators, carrying banners and placards, were demanding that discussion should be allowed in the House on their Adjournment Motion.

Slogans like Tamil Nadu Nay Inkar Keya, Punjab Nay Inkar Keya. Par Jammu and Kashmir Sarkar Nay Ikrar Keya repeatedly rented in the air as PDP legislators pointed out that governments of Tamil Nadu and Punjab have opposed death sentences to killers of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh. But the Jammu and Kashmir Governemnt has rather facilitated execution of Mohammad Afzal Guru. They were also shouting slogan Afzal Guru Ko To Fanshi De, Galib Kay Saath Insaf Karo.

Instead of accepting motion of PDP, Speaker has adjourned the House for half an hour. As soon as the House assembled again, PDP members again pressed for their demand of allowing discussion in the House on their Motion but the Speaker of the Assembly has again adjourned the House without allowing discussion. PDP members were demanding that their Adjournment Motion should be accepted and government should allow discussion on this issue but later the Speaker adjourned the House for whole day without accepting demand of the party.

Spokesman of the PDP Naeem Akthar later said that the part was serious about discussing the circumstances under which Afzal Guru was hanged secretly without allowing him the opportunity to approach the Supreme Court after his mercy petition was rejected by the President of India. The party wants to discuss the issue of deprived of the Afzal’s family of their legal rights including return of his mortal remains for proper last rites.

The spokesman expressed concern that the Omar Abdullah Government was trying to choke all democratic voices and even trying to denying the forms of Legislature for expression of views. He said that the government has clamped down every hard measure to ban news papers, cable TV and internet in the wake of the hanging of Afzal Guru by disallowing the people of their right to information and their right to expression.

It is sad day for the democracy that even the elected representative are being denied the opportunity to raise issues of such crucial importance even in the Legislature. He said that such a dictatorial and intolerant attitude of the government does not board well for the future of democracy in the State. This attitude of the government is like to further erode the faith of the people in democratic process and democratic institutions.

Omar Abdullah government, the spokesman said, is becoming a threat to the very concept of democracy in the State as Chief Minister wants to rule people of Jammu and Kashmir through official repercussion and brute force.

Meanwhile PDP has moved fresh Adjournment Motion on the same demand under Rule-56 of Procedure and Conduct of Bussiness in J&K Legislative Assembly. The party has sought the adjournment of normal business of the House on March 2, 2013 to discuss the same.

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