Srinagar, Oct 08 (KNS): CM Mufti Thursday condemned the BJP legislators attack on engineer Rashid over hosting beef party at MLA hostel on Wednesday evening, following which the Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, though delayed, apologized.
Rashid was assaulted by the BJP legislators on Thursday inside the Legislative Assembly after he entered to attend the fifth- day of the ongoing autumn session.
While condemning the act, Mufti said that house has its credibility and such things should not happen inside assembly. “It is disrespect for the sanctity of the house. I condemn this act as this should not have happen. After all Engineer Rashid is also an elected member of the house,” he said.
Mufti said, “Though he (Rashid) keeps on disrupting the members in the House but we have to tolerate him as he also is an elected member.”
However, the deputy CM who was reluctant neither condemned nor apologized the incident at first instance. “Whatever have happened should not have happened. We don’t approve it as it was wrong. Everyone has right to express his views. This is what I clear on behalf of my party,” said Nirmal Singh without condemning and apologizing the incident.
This infuriated the opposition members who stood up from their seats and demanded apologies from the BJP party, after which Mufti again intervened and asked deputy CM to apologize but BJP MLAs resented it and asked Deputy CM Nirmal Singh “not to say sorry”.
“I told that it was unfortunate and we condemn it. As we too have sentiments those need to be respected,” he said and sat down.
On it opposition members staged walkout during the Question Hour as they were reluctant on their demanded (seeking apology from the BJP).
When the Zero Hour began, NC legislator Muhammad Akbar Lone stood up and informed the House that Minister for law and parliamentary affairs Syed Basharat Bukhari had approached them from the government to attend the House proceedings as “CM was ready to apologize”.
On this CM Mufti replied that “Why should I apologize, Deputy CM will apologize as they were the BJP legislators,” he said.
Then deputy CM had no other option but to apologize and did so in few words. “I feel very sorry for that,” Deputy CM said and sat down. (KNS)