The sloganeering by the People’s Democratic Party and a walkout by Bharatiya Janta Party and National Panthers Party (NPP) members disrupted Governor N.N. Vohra’s address to the joint session of the Legislature at Jammu on Monday.
However, the Governor completed his address unlike last year when he left half way through.
NPP members led by Harshdev Singh entered the central hall five minutes before the address and shouted slogans against the proposed surrender policy for Kashmiri youth in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. They were supported by BJP members. BJP leader in the House Chaman Lal Gupta went close to the podium and handed over a memorandum to the Governor after which both parties staged a walkout and boycotted the address.
However, PDP members remained in the House and raised the issue of “gross human rights violations” in Kashmir. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti called the coalition government inefficient. She told the Governor: “Kashmir is burning. Children are being killed and booked as anti-nationals. Children carrying stones are being showered with the bullets. Mr. Governor, did Kashmiris register 60 per cent voting for this.”
“Alienation of youth”
Later talking to journalists, Ms. Mehbooba said the government had failed on all fronts. She alleged that the government had adopted a policy of “bullet to stone.” “This policy has led to the alienation of youth of Kashmir. This is the reason why youth are coming to roads and lobbing stones. They had lot of expectations after elections,” she said.
