Uproarious scenes in Assembly over BJP MLA’s remarks against Kashmiris

Jammu, Feb 17: Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Tuesday over remarks made by BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa, who alleged on February 13 that Kashmiris were encroaching land in Jammu.
As soon as the House assembled, Khursheed stood up and drew the attention of the Chair to Randhawa’s remarks. The Speaker asked him to take his seat and allow the obituary references for two deceased lawmakers.
After the obituary references were read, Khursheed again stood up and waved a placard that read “Khasra No. 211” in an attempt to highlight alleged land encroachment by Randhawa himself. Randhawa had received a show-cause notice from the Jammu Development Authority for allegedly encroaching on land in Khasra No. 211 at Chak Ganeshu village in Mandal tehsil of Jammu.
The Speaker told the legislator not to disrupt Question Hour and to allow the House to function.
As soon as Question Hour ended, Congress MLAs Irfan Hafiz Lone and Iftikhar Ahmad stood up, demanding that Randhawa apologise for his remarks.
“Chor Machaye Shor, Chor Machaye Shor, Kashmiri Ko Badnam Karna Band Karo,” shouted Irfan.
Amid the commotion in the House, Congress MLA Iftikhar Ahmad accused the BJP of maligning Kashmiris. “First they defamed the Pir Panchal region, now they are maligning the people of Kashmir,” he said.
Pointing towards Randhawa, Khursheed said that the member who accused Kashmiris of being land grabbers was himself a land grabber.
Soon after, BJP legislator Vikram Randhawa stood up and countered the Congress MLAs and Khursheed. “I have never targeted any particular community,” Randhawa said.
NC members also stood up and asked Randhawa to apologise to Kashmiris.
Amid the commotion, Deputy Chief Surinder Choudhary urged Randhawa to apologise, stating that he belonged to a community that could never be communal.
“Land encroachers have no religion,” Choudhary remarked.
As Congress and NC MLAs persisted with their demand, Randhawa said that he would retract his remarks if he had used any such words.
“I didn’t make against any specific community. If I have used such words, I will take them back,” he said.
Randhawa’s offer to retract the words pacified the agitating members.
The Speaker assured the House that he would check the records and expunge the remarks if it was found that Randhawa had made them. (KNO)