Killing of former minister rock Jammu Kashmir Assembly,Son raises finger on PDP, demand CBI probe
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today witnessed uproar and commotion created by opposition benches after an independent legislator, son of former minister Ghulam Nabi Lone, once again raised fingers at Peoples Democratic Party, one of the alliances in the coalition government, and said that his father was killed due to the internal crises within the party.
Making his maiden speech in the state legislative assembly, MLA Sangrama Shoaib Ahmed Lone captivated the entire House when he virtually wore his heart on his sleeve. Amid pin drop silence in the House, Lone said, “The only aim of coming to this House was to get justice for my family”.
“My mother always asks me as what happened to the killers of my father”, he said while disappointment was all visible on his face. “After running from pillar to post, I am not feeling helpless and betrayed”.
MLA Sangrama, Shoaib Ahmed Lone, came down heavily upon the coalition government for its failure to book the real culprits responsible for the killing of his father – Ghulam Nabi Lone former Education Minister Ghulam Nabi Lone, who was killed in a fidayeen (suicide) attack at his Tulsibagh area residence in Srinagar in 2005 – and threatened to resign from the assembly in case a CBI probe was not ordered.
Participating in the discussion on governor’s address in state legislative assembly, here today, Lone said that the claim of coalition government to have curbed human right violation is without any basis as he is one of the victims.
“My father was not killed by militants but he became a victim of political conspiracy”, he said adding, “Government has made a cruel joke on the name of investigation and I am running from pillar to post to get justice”, he said.
“There were political differences within Peoples Democratic Party which led to the killing of my father”, he said, while demanding a CBI probe in the killing.
“It is unfortunate that government did nothing to bring the real culprits to justice but instead the matter was hushed up”, Lone said terming himself as a victim of human right violation in the state.
“I challenge that my father was not killed by militants but it was internal crises within PDP which led to the killing of my father”, Shoaib said.
“I feel suffocated when I come to this assemble as no justice was done with my family”, he said adding the two persons arrested by the police in connection with the killing of his father were also released later.
“I demand inquiry in my father’s killing by Central Bureau of Investigation (a prime investigation agency of India) as the killers are holding higher posts in the government”, he said.
“The only reason to contest the election and come here on the floor of the House was to get justice to my father’s soul”, he added.
He threatened that in case the government failed to entrust the investigation to CBI he will resign as a legislator.
The young MLA said that civil secretariat should have been named as `Civil Secretariat Shopping Mal’ as corruption was rampant under the coalition regime.
Pooh poohing the government claims, he said that he was one of the victim where money was demanded and accepted by a minister. “If Chief Minister assures me that action would be taken against the minister, I am ready to divulge his name on the floor of the House”.
“Rs 60,000 were demanded from me and I later paid an amount of rupees fourty thousands to clear the file from the office of a minister”, he said.
The allegations provided an opportunity to the opposition members, who started raising anti-government slogans and demanded action against the minister.
All the members from opposition benches include lone State Morcha and BJP members joined in the protest, which was also supported by ruling party MLA Ghulam Hassan Mir.
Mir, who is considered to be mentor of Lone, said that government should come out with a detail report about the killing and investigation conducted thereafter. “If we go by the government’s claim that the security lapse was the reason behind the killing it (government) should point out the persons involved in such a serious lapse”.
In the absence of the chief minister, Education minister Pandit Mangat Ram Sharma asked Lone to reveal the name of the minister but the later said that he would do the same only if he is assured by the government of action against the minister.
Muhammad Yousf Tarigami of CPI stood in support of Lone and said that both the issues are of serious nature and House should discuss it.
As the Speaker Tara Chand tried to bring the House in order, Shoaib threatened to resign in case government refuses to order a CBI probe.
Leader of opposition and National Conference leader Abdul Rehim Rather said that Speaker is custodian of the rights of the Members and can take any decision. “It is very unfortunate that an MLA from ruling alliance challenges the claim of zero tolerance and human right violation on the floor of the House”.
Amid the slogan rising and uproar the speaker Tara Chand was forced to adjourn the House.