Jammu: Peoples Conference president and MLA Handwara, Sajad Gani Lone on Tuesday walked out of Legislative Assembly after his amendments to the Lieutenant Governor’s address were disallowed.
The Assembly witnessed exchange of words between Lone and the Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather after the former’s amendments related to Article 370 and Article 35A were disallowed. Lone’s amendments related to the repeal of the Public Safety Act, the shifting back of PSA detainees lodged outside J&K, and a probe into the rigging of the 1987 election were also disallowed by the Speaker.
After the Question Hour ended, Lone stood up and questioned the Speaker over rejection of his amendments.
Contesting the Speaker’s claim that he had disallowed the amendment because it was identical to the resolution brought by the National Conference-led government last year, Lone said there was no match between the two.
Lone said there was no mention of Article 370 or August 5, 2019 events or even Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Act-2019 in the resolution passed by NC-led government in the last session “Your resolution is like a marriage invitation card in which neither the names of the bride is written nor the name of groom is mentioned,” Lone said.
Further questioning the NC’s resolution, Lone said,” The special status doesn’t mean Article 370. The special status doesn’t cover what has been done to us on August 5, 2019. The special status could also mean a Union Territory. Are we fighting for a UT?” he asked.
Lone also contested the Speaker’s ruling on disallowing his amendment for a probe into 1987 election rigging.
Responding to Lone’s claim, the Speaker said the PSA cannot be repealed until statehood is restored. Lone said how the Assembly can remain quiet on “stringent police verification procedures.
