SRINAGAR: A day after Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti stated that tampering with Article 370 was an "anti-national" act, Jammu and Kashmir’s legislative assembly on Tuesday witnessed uproars and adjournments.
During the Zero Hour on Tuesday, ruling BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia took exception to Mehbooba’s remarks in the Assembly on Monday.
While speaking on Home department grants, Mehbooba had said those trying to abrogate Article 370 are the biggest “anti-nationals” and they should be opposed.
“Those who are doing it are harming India and its interests. Article 370 has persuaded the people to reject the monolithic concept of living and adopt a pluralistic way in tune with the traditions and ethos of the place,” she had said adding, “Disturbing Article 370 would be against country’s interests.”
The BJP MLA Jasrotia urged Speaker Kavinder Gupta to expunge CM’s remarks from the records of the house saying “every political party in the state has its own ideology.”
As the Speaker agreed to the demand, the members of NC and Congress were up on their feet in opposition, terming the move as illegal.
NC member Ali Mohmmad Sagar, flanked by other opposition members, asked the Speaker, "How can you do it (expunge the CM's remarks). You are making a mockery of this House."
The members walked into the Well of the House, raising anti-government slogans, and demanded that the government should resign over this issue.
PDP members also staged a walkout over the expunging of the remarks. Protests, sloganeering and noisy scenes forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.
As the House assembled again, the opposition did not allow it to run and walked into the Well, demanding the CM's statement or resignation of the government.
Speaker Kavinder Gupta said, "Every party has its agenda. PDP has its agenda, Congress has its agenda, NC has its agenda and BJP too has its agenda. All have separate agendas. I am speaking from here as a Speaker."
"I have not yet received the record of the yesterday's proceedings. Let the record of the proceedings come to me, if the is word anti-national, I will expunge it," he said.
Intervening, Omar said when NC member Sagar raised the issue of expunging the remarks, we heard that the CM's remarks have been expunged.
The Speaker adjourned the House after the pandemonium. Later when the House re-assembled, the Speaker ruled out having the remarks expunged.
"I have expunged the remarks of the Assembly. The Chief Minister will clear its stand herself later," he said.