Ruckus in J&K Assembly Post Attack on Army's Sunjwan Camp: Anti-Pakistan, Pro-Pakistan Slogans Raised

Srinagar, Feb 10: Chaotic scenes were witnessed in the Jammu & Kashmir assembly following the pre-dawn militant attack on the Army's Sunjwan camp in Jammu. As the House convened early in the day -- while the attack was still underway -- legislators of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) raised anti-Pakistan slogans to mark their protest against the terror assault. Reacting to it, a National Conference MLA raised pro-Pakistan chants.

The NC MLA from Sonawari, Akbar Lone, allegedly shouted 'Pakistan zindabad' in the J&K Assembly, which triggered the BJP members to seek his disqualification from the House.

In a bid to control the controversy, the NC president farooq Abdullah issued a statement, distaning the party from the contentious statement of Lone.

"Dr Farooq Abdullah Sahib and the entire party is of the unequivocal stand that NC MLA from Sonawari, Mr Akbar Lone, has spoken out of turn and his slogans in the Legislative Assembly are completely unacceptable to the party," said the press statement issued by NC.

Lone, however, defended his action, saying he was "provoked" by the BJP to raise slogans in favour of Pakistan.

Later amid the House proceedings, BJP MLA and J&K Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta alleged links between the Rohingya settlements in Jammu with the attack on Army camp today.

"I live in that constituency, complaints have come from there, and in a way the government also accepts that the number of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis is increasing. They are a security threat," Gupta said.

However, the MLAs of NC, PDP and a section of Congress legislators took exceptions to Gupta's remark, alleging that he is targeting the Muslim refugees for political gains.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said the focus should remain on the growing insecurity in J&K, "rather than diverting issues".

"We need to focus on the unfortunate developments in Sunjwan Army camp and not get distracted by misplaced slogans," he said.

The attack on the Army camp had claimed the lives of two soldiers, by the time this report was first published. Combing operations were still underway. The four Jaish-e-Muhammad terrorists who executed the attack are holed up inside a building in the Sunjwan camp.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 10, 2018 03:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).