Pandemonium prevailed in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today as the opposition parties staged a walkout over the government's refusal to adopt a resolution countering the one passed by the Pakistan National Assembly on the execution of Afzal Guru.
As the House started its proceedings, BJP and JKNPP legislators called for the introduction and passage of a counter-resolution against the one passed by the Pakistan National Assembly on March 14.
BJP Legislative Party leader Ashok Khajuria asked the Speaker Mubarak Gul that the House formally condemn the Pakistani move, a proposal supported by JKNPP's Harsh Dev Singh and Jammu State Morcha (JSM)'s Ashwami Sharma.
But turning down those demands, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand and Law Minister Mir Saifullah said that Parliament had already passed a resolution condemning the Pakistani move.
"Parliament has already passed a resolution against Pakistan - the message has been sent. It is applicable to us also - there is no need for a resolution," Chand said.
"We have no control over Pakistan. We have a limited role in this Assembly," he added.
The state government's stand, however, triggered off loud demands by opposition members who were on their feet shouting anti-Pakistan slogans.
"If we can discuss and bring a resolution on terrorist Guru why can't we bring one against Pakistan which has bled us in proxy war?," asked Ashwani Kumar of JSM, evoking a strong reaction from Rural Development Minister and National Conference legislator, Ali Mohammad Sagar.
Later, the agitating opposition members staged a walkout from the House.
The main opposition PDP has already boycotted the Assembly and are not attending the House proceedings over the issue of Guru's hanging.
