Sajad Lone stages walkout from Assembly; questions “NC’s silence on pressing issues”

Jammu: Peoples Conference president and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday walked out of Legislative Assembly after his amendments to the Lieutenant Governor’s address were disallowed.

The Assembly witnessed exchange of words between Lone and the Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather after the former’s amendments related to Article 370 and Article 35A were disallowed. Lone’s amendments related to the repeal of the Public Safety Act, the shifting back of PSA detainees lodged outside J&K, and a probe into the rigging of the 1987 election were also disallowed by the Speaker.

After the Question Hour ended, Lone stood up and questioned the Speaker over rejection of his amendments.

Contesting the Speaker’s claim that he had disallowed the amendment because it was identical to the resolution brought by the National Conference-led government last year, Lone said there was no match between the two.

Lone said there was no mention of Article 370 or August 5, 2019 events or even Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act-2019 in the resolution passed by NC-led government in the last session “Your resolution is like a marriage invitation card in which neither the names of the bride is written nor the name of groom is mentioned,” Lone said.

Further questioning the NC’s resolution, Lone said,” The special status doesn’t mean Article 370. The special status doesn’t cover what has been done to us on August 5, 2019. The special status could also mean a Union Territory. Are we fighting for a UT?” he asked.

Lone also contested the Speaker’s ruling on disallowing his amendment for a probe into 1987 election rigging.

“We are unable to come out of 1987. We are trapped in 1987. The rigging of the 1987 election brought violence. One lakh people died,” Lone said.

The Speaker disallowed the amendment, saying the 1987 election is not a matter of recent occurrence.

On rejection of amendments related to PSA and police verification, the Speaker said that these matters fall under the purview of Union Home Ministry.

“I am not saying that you should pass law on PSA. You should mention in the LG address that you have a desire to repeal the PSA,” Lone responded.

Responding to Lone’s claim, the Speaker said the PSA cannot be repealed until statehood is restored.

Lone said how the Assembly can remain quiet on “stringent police verification procedures.

“We want our children shouldn’t be punished for what their father or brother or cousin has done? It is primitive. How can we allow this? How can this Assembly keep quiet?” he asked,

Lone said he himself has been a victim of police verification and was banned from applying for a passport in 2012. “I was under prior approval category (PAC) ,” he said, adding that this form of “collective punishment” is only in the state of Jammu & Kashmir

“We want the verification rules which are prevalent in Punjab should also apply to us .Are we not equal citizens of India?” Lone asked,

Angered by the Speaker’s refusal to allow the amendments to the LG’s address, Lone staged a walkout from the House and did not attend remaining proceedings—(KNO)