Chaos stalls proceedings in assembly second dayRather, Qarra exchange heated words; NC, PP legislators protest

Athar Parvaiz


SRINAGAR, Aug 22: Chaotic scenes dominated the proceedings of in the state assembly for the second consecutive day and the scheduled business got suspended with the legislators in opposition benches protesting in favour of their persistent demands.
The speaker had to enforce adjournment thrice as every attempt to resume the scheduled business proved unsuccessful. Prior to the adjournment of the house on the third and final occasion, leader of Opposition Abdul Rahim Rather and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister,

Tariq Hameed Qarra exchanged words of criticism and disparagement. They also made arguments in favour of their respective benches and both of them refused to take the responsibility of the resultant chaos on the two successive days. Later, Rather further elaborated his and his party's viewpoint during a press conference outside the assembly complex.
The high drama began at the very outset today as the legislators from district Kupwara, donning black aprons, inscribed with the slogan "Estehsal Bandh Karo", walked into the well of the house and demanded immediate attention towards the far-flung district. They said that the district has altogether been ignored just because people of Kupwara have elected NC candidates. Those who raised slogans included: Qaiser Jamshed, Kafeel-ur-Rehman, Mir Saifullah and Sharief-u-Din Shariq. Jamshed and his other colleagues were later forced to leave the house as the speaker observed that they were disprupting the proceedings.

Mubarak Gul and legislators of Panthers Party also chose to get assertive in favour of their respective demands. Mubarak demanded attention about the "deteriorating condition of Srinagar city" whereas legislators of Panthers Party demanded immediate revocation of suspension of Harsh Dev Singh. Harsh was suspended by the Speaker on Tuesday after senior Congress leader, Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma moved a motion for his suspension.

All the members later raised joint slogans: "Nekami Sarkar Hai Hai.. Choroon Ki Sarkar Hai Hai." Finding the members unrelenting, the speaker adjourned the house for 10 minutes (which ultimately continued for more than an hour). When the attempt was made for the second time to resume the "business" at 12:05 pm, Panthers Party (PP) legislators started raising fierce slogans in favour of revocation of suspension orders against their leader, Harsh Dev Singh.