Uproar in assembly over army chief’s remarks, NC stages walkout

5 Dariya News

Srinagar 15-Jan-2018

Uproar witnessed in the lower house of the J&K Legislative Assembly on Tuesday over the recent remarks of Army chief General Bipin Rawat on schools in the state.According to GNS correspondent, the opposition MLA and senior National Conference (NC) leader Ali Mohammad Sagar stood up soon after the session began and termed the army chief’s remarks as “unwarranted”.Sagar said the army chief should not have given such statement which evoked resentment and sends a “wrong message”.On Saturday Education minister, Syed Altaf Bukhari, asked the Army to not "meddle" with what is not its domain and give sermons to the state on how to run its education system.Army should concentrate on their job and not interfere in education sector. Education is in the domain of the State and we know how to run it. We don’t want any sermons from them,” he had.He also said: “I would be glad to see them (Army) doing what they are supposed to do and leave us to do what we are supposed to do. Our Chief Minister is capable enough to take decisions regarding the improvement of education department.”Army Chief General Bipin Rawat had on Friday while addressing a press conference in New Delhi on the eve of the Army Day said that the social media and government schools in Jammu and Kashmir are spreading a “disinformation campaign” resulting in radicalisation of youth and called for “some control” over mosques and madrasas in the restive State.He had also said a “major revamp” of the education system was needed in the State to deal with the problem.

Shouting “Qatil Sarkar Hai Hai, RSS Sarkar Hai Hai, PDP Sarkar Hai Hai, All Out Sarkar Hai Hai, Crack Down Sarkar Hai Hai”, Sagar sought the attention of the Speaker over army chief’s “direct interference” and demanded statement over the crackdown started by forces in Srinagar’s old city since Sunday.“After 17 years, crackdown started in the old city parts,” NC leader said and other members including Shamima Firdous and Abdul Majeed Lari also joined him.The NC members alleged that forces while launching door to door searches checked mobile phones of people which is “extreme in this age”.“Earlier, CASOs were seen in south Kashmir, now it has reached central and north Kashmir. We did not bring adjournment because you have told us that opposition parties are not allowing the house to run smoothly,” Sagar according to GNS said.Meanwhile, CPI (M) leader and MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said government has no clear stand, vision or policy.“Government should react over the army chief’s remarks and should clear its stand what army chief meant by poltico-military solution to Kashmir,” Tarigami said.He said the ruling partners PDP-BJP are contradicting with each other’s statement and that “the Government of India (GoI) says one thing, army another, and state government other things”.The members of the opposition NC and CPI (M) continuously sought the Speaker’s attention demanding the statement from the government. As the government remained unmoved, the NC members staged walkout. (GNS)