Jammu, Mar 27: Withdrawal of security cover of an ex-legislator by the government provoked joint protest by the opposition parties in the legislative assembly Saturday.
 Senior PDP member, A R Veeri raised the issue soon after the House met for today’s business. “The government has turned a deaf ear towards the matter of prime importance pertaining to the withdrawal of security cover to ex-MLA Rajpora Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir”, Veeri said adding, “The former legislator is under imminent threat from militants and the withdrawal of security only speaks of the vindictive approach of the Government on the behest of the chief minister.”
 BJP and the Panthers Party members extended support to the Peoples Democratic Party in the latter’s protest over withdrawal of Mir’s security cover.
 JKNPP MLA, Harshdev Singh sought a direction from the Speaker to the Government on the ‘sensitive’ issue.
 Veeri, got back to his seat only after the Speaker Muhammad Akbar Lone assured him that he will ask the government to take notice of the issue.
 However, Veeri raised the issue again, soon after the end of the Question Hour, and appealed the Chair to ask the government for its response.
 As the Speaker attempted to convince the member, all the PDP members, came near the well to register their protest. They were alleging that the withdrawal of security of the ex- MLA was a `vindictive act’ of the government.
 PDP member, Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari said there was a potent threat to the life of Mir as he has already lost his father at the hands of militants. He said according to Mir his security was withdrawn on the directions of chief minister who got offended with him for raising issues of public importance during the Pulwama board meeting. 
 The protesting members did not agree to the plea of Law Minister, Ali Muhammad Sagar, who said that the security of the ex-MLA was withdrawn following a routine review. He also said that the matter would be conveyed to the DGP.
 Expressing doubt over the intentions of the government, the BJP State president, Ashok Khajurai, said that it was unfortunate that the security was provided to the former legislature till he was with the ruling party and withdrawn when he joined another party.
 CPI (M) member M Y Tarigami observed that security of any person should not be made a prestige issue and demanded assurance from the government for restoring the security of the ex- MLA.
 The Speaker finally issued directions that the ADG security should communicate to him the action he has taken in this regard.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 27 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST