The National Conference (NC) and Congress (India National Congress) forms the majority of the opposition members in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) National assembly. Several members of the two parties staged a walkout to protest the government’s response to the power crisis in the state following subzero temperatures, especially in the Kashmir valley. Apart from the power crisis, it is averred that border shelling has claimed 12 lives since Thursday.
NC MLA Ali Mohammad Sagar was the first to demonstrate his democratic right by staging the walk out. He was supported by Altaf Kaloo and Javaid Rana both party legislatures from the NC party. Vikar Rasool, Usman Majeed, and G M Saroori Congress members also walked out in protest. The opposition members walked out when the deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh was addressing the floor. Nirmal holds the power portfolio and was responding to questions raised by various members of the government on the power crisis in the region.
Before the walkout, Sagar blamed the government for the alleged fiasco to deal with the power crisis in Kashmir. During the exchange, A R Veeri – Parliamentary Affairs Minister urged Sagar to take a seat, however, Sagar continued to raise issues. He brought up Chief Minster Mehbooba Mufti’s previous statement on the border firing by Pakistan; that the state will not be allowed to become a battlefield. Sagar reiterated that amid such remarks there have been 12 lives lost to skirmishes between Pakistan and India. He told reporters outside the house that the opposition stands with the Chief Minister’s statement because they were suffering.
Sagar went on to accuse Kavinder Gupta – the Speaker for not giving the opposition time to address issues. When the opposition raises any issues, the speaker is on the forefront to muzzle their voices. He told reporters that the power minister accepted that work has stopped in Alasteng, Telbal, and Gudgam grid stations. Sagar reiterated that if the contractor has left, Jammu and Kashmir will not receive power.
While the house was still in session before the staged walkout, when the speaker took the chair, several opposition leaders stood up to take issue with the alleged baton charge on some Kathua District people who were protesting against the brutal murder of an eight-year-old girl. They also faulted the government for the arrest of Gujjar leader Talib Hussain for leading protest against the killing of the minor girl in Kathua.
The walkouts are common phenomenon practiced by the opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
