Mercy to Afzal Guru: Protests outside J-K Assembly,MLA lands in hospital

Rashid cried hoarse outside the main gate of the Assembly this morning against all major mainstream political parties – the ruling NC-Congress and opposition PDP – accusing them of “deliberately stalling the clemency resolution’’ in the house. The resolution could not come up for discussion and vote because of a scuffle between Congress and BJP legislators in the house leading to its adjournment for the day. The resolution cannot come up for a discussion again during this session.

Meanwhile,Opposition PDP leader was sharply rapped on the kncukles by Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone. He accused her silence over the Afzal Guru issue as “cheap politics.”

When the leader rose to defend her party’s silence during yesterday’s commotion,the Speaker said: “Mehboobaji you are doing cheap politics…”

After the House proceedings were disrupted yesterday,the Speaker had told reporters he regretted the silence of the main Opposition PDP since the resolution for Afzal Guru was listed in the day’s business.

“Yesterday you kept quiet and did not utter a word. What was the meaning of your silence (over Guru resolution). You should be ashamed,” Lone told Mehbooba.

The PDP leader said while her party was accused of being disruptive when it raised issues of importance,it was not being spared even when it wanted to cooperate in ensuring the House proceedings were conducted smoothly.

The Speaker accused the PDP of enacting a “drama” in the Assembly. “You were also a character (in the drama). I am also a political worker and have a longer career than you. You should do some introspection,” Lone said.

The Speaker’s remarks infuriated PDP members who demanded an apology from him.

“There is no question of an apology. I stand by what I have said. Mehbooba is a leader and she will have to hear these things,” he said.

As the PDP members continued agitating over the matter,the Speaker said if there were any words which the Opposition members considered derogatory,he would expunge them from the record. He,however,refused the apologise.

Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar intervened and apologised to Mehbooba after which normal business of the House started.

PDP,which had announced its support to the clemency resolution,had remained silent spectators yesterday as BJP and Congress MLAs traded charges against each other,disrupting the House proceedings for the entire day.

The BJP MLAs demanded the clemency resolution be dropped,calling it “anti-national”.

Congress MLAs demanded the Speaker reveal the names of BJP MLAs who had been expelled or suspended by the party for cross-voting during the Legislative Council elections earlier this year.