NC, Cong protest over AFSPA; walk out of J&K Assembly

Opposition parties Wednesday staged a walkout from the J&K Assembly, as Governor NN Vohra was addressing the joint sitting of the legislature on the first day of the budget session.

The walkout by National Conference and the Congress has been in protest over continued enforcement of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA) in the state, shortage of ration and other issues.

Soon as the Governor began his address, opposition legislators began shouting slogans over revoking the Armed Services Special Powers Act and National Food Security Act. They also demanded magisterial probe over the recent Handwara killings and sacking of forest minister Lal Singh for allegedly making threatening remarks against a Gujjar delegation in Jammu last week.

“We need ration, not speeches,” the NC leaders shouted and thumped the desks. Congress members led by its legislature party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora also joined the protest demanding roll back of the NFSA.

The government criticised the opposition saying they should have listened to the Governor before making their objections in a democratic manner. As the Governor refused to pay heed to the protests and continued his address, members of both the opposition parties walked out.

However, independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid chose to remain in the House. Carrying a banner on recent Handwara killings, Rashid said that the Chief Minister had promised to complete the investigation in one month and make the probe public.“Where is the investigation now (the specified) one month has passed?” he asked.

Rashid also objected to the plans to build cluster townships for Kashmir Pandits and Sainik Colony saying: “We won’t allow Kashmir to be made another Palestine.”Addressing the Governor, he said, “You (Governor) do not represent us. You are a non-state subject. We are supposed to have an elected Sadr-e-Riyasat (president of the state). you represent Delhi."

He even alleged that Vohra had been “made to lie” by the central government.