Ruckus in J&K Assembly as NC member raises ‘Pak Zindabad’ slogans

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Services

Jammu, February 10

Protests rocked the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Saturday after NC member Mohammad Akbar Lone raised “Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in the House.

Lone, NC MLA from Sonawari Assembly constituency in Bandipora, created an embarrassing situation when he stood up and shouted “Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans when the ruling BJP MLAs were raising anti-Pakistan slogans to condemn the terror attack on Sunjwan Army station.

Lone said he would continue doing so inside and outside the Assembly as he saw “no wrong in it”.

Yes, I said it. It is my personal view, I said it in the house and I don't think anyone should have a problem with it: National Conference MLA Akbar Lone on shouting 'Pakistan Zindabad' in J&K Assembly pic.twitter.com/JbiwNui0kj

— ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2018

This was the first time in the history of the Assembly that “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans were raised in the House.

NC spokesman, Junaid Mattoo immediately went into damage control by posting on Twitter, "Hon'ble @JKNC_ President has said the NC MLA should not forget that he belongs to a party that rejected the two nation theory and he should also remember the oath he swears in the name of God at the beginning of his term. The party disowns and condemns his remarks." 

Hon'ble @JKNC_ President has said the NC MLA should not forget that he belongs to a party that rejected the two nation theory and he should also remember the oath he swears in the name of God at the beginning of his terms. The party disowns and condemns his remarks. 2/2.

— Junaid Azim Mattu (@Junaid_Mattu) February 10, 2018

Opposition National Conference (NC) and Congress members stormed into the Well of the House after Speaker Kavinder Gupta said the attack on the Army camp was the reason as Rohingiya Muslims were residing near it.

Opposition members demanded that the Speaker take back his words where he blamed Rohingyas for the attack.

They also alleged that Pakistan was sponsoring “terror” in Jammu and Kashmir.

Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah said: "We need to focus on the unfortunate developments in #SunjwanArmyCamp & not get distracted by misplaced slogans."

We need to focus on the unfortunate developments in #SunjwanArmyCamp & not get distracted by misplaced slogans.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) February 10, 2018