By IANS
Jammu : Proceedings of Jammu and Kashmir’s assembly were stalled again Monday as opposition National Conference members reiterated their demand of removal of two ministers for their alleged corrupt practices in the forest department.
The house met Monday after it was adjourned Thursday following noisy protests by the opposition members who have been demanding the sacking of Forest Minister Qazi Mohammed Afzal and his predecessor Tariq Hameed Karra, who now holds the finance portfolio. The ministers are from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is a key partner in the ruling coalition.
Irregularities in the forest department came to the fore after an official inquiry report was tabled in the house last week. The report has not indicted the ministers but the opposition says they are involved in the irregularities.
As the house met Monday morning, all the members of the National Conference were on their feet shouting slogans against the government.
The pandemonium continued though Speaker Tara Chand informed that the day’s business included a discussion on the report. He asked the opposition to relent and take part in the debate.
But as the noisy protests continued, the speaker adjourned the house.
Meanwhile, the PDP has rejected the opposition demand, saying its ministers would not quit.
According to party sources, PDP patron and former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has told Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad that the opposition call for the removal of ministers was groundless.