A day after the People’s Democratic Party-Bharatiya Janata Party government took oath in Jammu & Kashmir, the Narendra Modi Government faced a furore in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with the Opposition demanding a House resolution condemning the statement by Chief Minister Mufti Mohamed Sayeed.
When Home Minister Rajnath Singh clarified that “the Government and his party (BJP) fully disassociate” themselves from the remarks made by Mufti, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a statement by the Prime Minister on the issue as well as a House resolution.
On Sunday, after taking oath, Mufti had credited Pakistan, the Hurriyat and militants for the ‘conducive’ atmosphere for Assembly elections in the State, adding that he had pointed this out the Prime Minister, too.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, K C Venugopal of Congress said “this is a serious issue” adding that Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh of BJP was sitting next to the Chief Minister but gave no clarification.
Venugopal said during the J&K elections six village sarpanchs were killed and there were suicide attacks on Army units. “This cannot be called conducive,” he said, adding that the credit for smooth elections goes to the people of the State, the Election Commission and security personnel.
Joined by the Left parties, Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Trinamool Congress, Venugopal insisted on a statement by the Prime Minister, even as the Home Minister asserted that he had made the statement only after discussions with Modi. “Let me clear this, there was not secret talk between the PM and J&K Chief Minister,” he added.
The situation became acrimonious after Speaker Sumitra Mahajan disallowed Kharge to carry on with his comments. The Opposition benches were seen shouting “injustice”. Later, SP leader Mulayam Singh urged the Speaker to allow a senior member like Kharge to at least air his views. “It is a serious issue. You are not allowing him to speak,” he added.
After the Speaker relented, Kharge, joined in by Mulayam Singh, again demanded a joint resolution conveying the House’s unhappiness with Mufti’s statement. After his demand was denied, the Opposition staged a walkout.