The killing of a teenager by forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district rocked the Assembly on Wednesday with opposition staging a walkout before exchanging heated arguments with the treasury benches.
During the discussion on grants of Relief and Rehabilitation Ministry, NC’s Ali Muhammad Sagar targeted the government for the killing and demanded a statement over the incident.
“You should stop killing people. You should stop firing bullets on people,” Sagar said.
He was also supported his party colleagues Abdul Majid Larmi and Altaf Wani.
Amid the demand, PDP’s MLA from Shopian Muhammad Yosouf Bhat demanded that House should express solidarity with the family of the deceased.
When Javaid Mustafa was speaking on the grants, NC’s Shamima Firdous stormed into the well of the house to protest over the killing. “Two girls have been critically injured in the firing. This is a serious issue. The government should make a statement about the incident,” she said before returning to her seat on the direction of deputy speaker Nazir Gurezi.
The NC and Congress legislators repeatedly demanded a statement from government over the killing.
“Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is the Home Minister. She is also the head of Unified Headquarters. She should direct forces to stop firing on the people,” Sagar said.
“You are treating every Kashmir as a terrorist and a threat to the State,” he said, adding that they will not sit down unless government makes a statement on the incident.
As NC legislators were standing at their seats, Sagar suddenly targeted Minister for Rural Development Abdul Haq Khan asking him why he (Khan) was laughing?
This led to exchange of heated arguments between the two sides with both blaming each other for the turmoil in Kashmir.” You have sown the seeds of this problem,” Khan responded.
Amid commotion in the House , Sagar accused Khan of being responsible for the bloodshed.”You are responsible for the death and destruction. You were yourself a militant. You brought gun here,” Sagar told him.
In the meantime, NC’s Abdul Majid Larmi came running towards Haq Khan but was prevented by Marshals from reaching near him
Shouting slogans” Qatil Sarkar Hai Hai”,
“Shakir Ke Qatiloon Ko Saza Doo”, the NC and Congress legislators created ruckus in the House.
Later, they staged a walk out from the House to protest against the killing.