Jammu, Feb 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday witnessed noisy scenes after opposition BJP members raised a demand for establishing a National Law University (NLU) in Jammu, while National Conference (NC) and PDP legislators sought discussion on alleged incidents of harassment of Kashmiris outside the Union Territory.
Despite the uproar, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather allowed the Question Hour to continue and rejected an adjournment motion moved by PDP MLA Wahid Ur Rehman Para seeking discussion on what he termed “hate crimes” against Kashmiris in other parts of the country.
As proceedings began, BJP MLA Surjit Singh Slathia highlighted protests by Jammu University students demanding an NLU for the region. He said the BJP was not opposed to an NLU in Kashmir but wanted a similar institution in Jammu to meet long-pending student demands.
While Slathia was speaking, several BJP MLAs stood up, displayed placards, and raised slogans such as “NLU for Jammu,” intensifying the ruckus in the House.
Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat objected to the display of placards, stating that the Business Advisory Committee had recently decided to maintain decorum in the Assembly. He termed the BJP’s action as an “encroachment and intrusion,” adding that the government had granted permission for an NLU in Kashmir following due process.
Amid the chaos, NC MLA Mubarak Gul alleged that Kashmiri students and traders were facing harassment and assaults in various parts of the country, which he said was unacceptable. Para informed the Speaker that he had submitted an adjournment motion to discuss the growing incidents of “hate crime” against Kashmiri students and others.
NC legislator Saifullah Mir further claimed that dozens of Kashmiris living outside the Union Territory were being confined to their accommodations and assaulted if they ventured out, calling for immediate government intervention.
The Speaker repeatedly urged members to maintain order and ruled out any adjournment of the House. He said the issues raised could be addressed through other appropriate mechanisms without disrupting the Question Hour, which he described as a key tool to hold the government accountable.
Rather added that the J&K government had already taken up the issue of harassment of Kashmiris with various state governments and expressed gratitude to the Uttarakhand Chief Minister for taking prompt action in a recent case. (Agencies)
