Ruling BJP’s leader Kavinder Gupta, also J&K Assembly’s Speaker, and opposition National Conference (NC) MLA Akbar Lone cut a sorry figure on Saturday after their remarks in the lower House triggered a furore.
As the House met on Saturday and the legislators sought a discussion on the militant attack in a camp in Jammu’s Sunjwan area early in the morning, the BJP MLAs started shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.
In response, NC MLA Lone shouted “Pakistan zindabad”, triggering a wave of condemnation from all parties, including his own. “I am a Muslim first. Nothing will happen by shouting anti-Pakistan or pro-Pakistan slogans. Only talks can yield results,” Lone said.
However, NC spokesman Junaid Azim Mattu distanced his party from the remarks.“NC President Dr. Farooq Abdullah and the entire party is of the unequivocal stand that Mr. Lone has spoken out of turn and his slogans are completely unacceptable. The MLA should not forget that he belongs to a party that rejected the two-nation theory. He should remember that he took the oath in the name of God at the beginning of his term,” said Mr. Mattu.
As the House witnessed noisy scenes over the issue, another controversy was stoked by Speaker Gupta, who said “Rohingyas are the reason which led to an attack in Jammu.”
Opposition legislators targeted the Speaker for the remarks. “We condemn the attack. However, we do not want the unfortunate refugees to be dragged into this,” said CPI(M) MLA M.Y. Tarigami.
NC MLA Devinder Rana said terrorism has no religion.
In the midst of the din, the Speaker adjourned the House for ten minutes. Later, he directed that the words be expunged.
A government spokesman said the remarks were expunged by the Speaker and the House “unanimously urged the Members to desist from making contentious statements on sensitive issues”.
This is the first time in the history of J&K assembly that a Speaker has expunged his own remarks in the house.
