In J&K Assembly, NC, BJP spar over obituary reference to former governor Satyapal Malik

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said that members will have the opportunity to speak on the issue but the session must begin with obituary references. Of the 90-member assembly, two seats remain vacant pending bye elections next month. Meanwhile, Mehraj Malik too was absent from his seat as he remains in detention under provisions of the Public Safety Act, with the Treasury Bench noting his absence of Doda MLA Mehraj Malik and protesting his detention.

Seats for five nominated members also continue to remain vacant in the Assembly.

The house then paid homage to six former members and former governor of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, Satyapal Malik. As several members rose to speak, obituary references to Satyapal Malik drew varied opinions from members of different parties.

When Bijbehara MLA Bashir Veeri termed Satyapal Malik’s tenure “controversial”, Opposition BJP raised objections to his statement. Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA MY Tarigami said while members should not speak ill of the deceased, “there should be scope for evaluation of anyone’s role whose work affects the people”.

A war of words also ensued between Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed and the BJP as the former questioned the absence of Mehraj Malik from the Assembly. PDP MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naik also spoke on the obituary references and made mention of the Doda MLA.

National Conference MLA Salman Sagar spoke on the contribution of the former MLAs who had passed on. He however, chose not to speak on Satyapal Malik stating that his silence is a “statement enough” on the role of the former governor in the abrogation of Article 370 on August 5, 2019 and the bifurcation of the state of J&K.

NC MLA Nazir Gurezi also termed Satyapal Malik’s role in the events of August 5 as “unconstitutional”.

Discord between the Treasury and the Opposition Benches ensued as BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa said that Satyapal Malik said that “[Satyapal] Malik gave J&K a new direction”. He also stated that Malik made August 5, a “momentous” day. Members of the NC rose from their benches to object to this statement, but the Speaker, however, did not let either side continue.

NC members also observed a silent protest outside the Assembly seeking the Doda MLAs detention. “He should be released. He has been elected by the people of Doda and they deserve representation in the Assembly,” Tanvir Sadiq, NC MLA and party’s chief spokesperson, said.

As members of the house spoke on the obituary references for over two hours, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah urged the Speaker to consider adopting the Parliamentary convention for conducting obituary references, “where the Speaker reads the remarks to the deceased members and the house marks their respect by observing silence”. This, he said, will help save time of the house and then business could resume sooner.

With the Speaker announcing that the House will “seriously consider” the CM’s suggestion, the House observed silence for the deceased members and adjourned for the Day.

Polls for the four vacant Rajya Sabha seats will be conducted on October 24. Session will resume Monday.