Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 22
A demand by the ruling National Conference (NC) to restore a holiday marking the birth or death anniversary of party founder Sheikh Abdullah triggered heated exchanges in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, with BJP lawmakers staging a walkout.
NC legislator Abdul Majid Larmi raised the issue shortly after the assembly began, saying the government should either restore the holiday for Sheikh Abdullah or withdraw the holiday marking the birth anniversary of Maharaja Hari Singh.
BJP lawmakers opposed the demand, with Devyani Rana saying the holiday for Hari Singh would not be cancelled.
NC legislator Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi) defended the demand, calling Sheikh Abdullah a people’s leader. NC chief whip Mubarak Gul said restoring the holiday was the party’s position.
PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para backed the demand and also called for restoring the July 13 holiday commemorating those killed during protests against Maharaja Hari Singh’s rule.
NC legislators supported that demand.
As exchanges grew louder, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather urged members to follow assembly procedure and said no decision had been taken on the issue.
BJP legislator Surjit Singh Slathia said his party wanted the House to function and sought answers from the government on issues raised during the session.
When the Speaker said the government could respond only after receiving proper notice, BJP members walked out shouting slogans against the government.
Congress legislator Irfan Hafiz Lone appeared to mock the walkout, prompting an angry exchange with BJP members.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah later praised BJP legislator Yudhvir Sethi for returning to the House to hear the reply to his question.
Sethi said he had returned specifically to obtain the chief minister’s response.
The House later witnessed another walkout when AAP legislator Mehraj Malik objected to being denied permission to raise a supplementary question on electricity amnesty.
