Srinagar, Mar 4: Peoples Conference president and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone, staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday after his proposed amendments regarding Article 370, police verification, and the return of detainees from prisons outside J&K were disallowed.
Following the question hour, Lone questioned Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather over the rejection of his amendments, which also included a probe into the alleged rigging of the 1987 elections and the Public Safety Act (PSA) detentions. The Speaker responded that these proposals were disallowed under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House.
Lone had submitted seven amendments to the Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) address, but only two were accepted. He argued that the LG’s address lacked any mention of Article 370, the need to abolish the current police verification system, and a probe into the 1987 elections. He also pointed out that the previous J&K Assembly session had not passed any resolution on Article 370.
“We are victims of police verification, and the rules are excessively strict. I am myself a victim. No one should be punished for the actions of their relatives. We cannot remain silent on these issues,” Lone asserted.
Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat supported Lone’s demand for a discussion on police verification, arguing that such issues should be openly debated in the House. Addressing the repeal of the PSA, Lone remarked, “If the government was serious, it should have included the repeal of the PSA in the LG’s address.”
In response, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather stated that these matters fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Home Affairs and cannot be addressed unless full statehood is restored to J&K.
Dissatisfied with the Speaker’s stance, Lone staged a walkout in protest. (AGENCIES)
