Jammu, Mar 31: A war of words broke out between Peoples Conference MLA Sajad Gani Lone and National Conference leaders in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday over the withdrawal of security to NC’s party headquarters.
During Zero Hour, Lone questioned the discussion on the withdrawal of security to NC’s party headquarters, saying legislators are not allowed to debate the Public Safety Act or police verification, yet are permitted to discuss security withdrawal.
“When we talk about PSA or police verification, you say this House doesn’t have powers. Then this House also doesn’t have powers to discuss security. Why are you allowing them to talk so much?” Lone asked.
The Speaker, however, clarified that he had not stopped anyone from raising issues but had only prevented legislators from using certain parliamentary devices due to rules.
Lone further alleged that thousands of people were killed in Kashmir due to denial of security by the National Conference-led government.
“I am entitled to the highest level of security. I don’t have house guards,” he said, adding that NC should write to the Home Ministry over the issue instead of projecting themselves as martyrs.
Irked by Lone’s remarks, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary asked Lone to vacate his official residential bungalow.
“You come here and lecture us. You should vacate the residential house,” Choudhary retorted.
Lone hit back, saying Choudhary was a blot on the chair of the Deputy Chief Minister.
Responding sharply, NC MLA Javid Hasan Baig said the issue was not about any single party but a collective concern for all legislators. He termed Lone’s remarks as personal and accused him of downplaying the seriousness of the matter. Baig added that if such incidents could happen to one party, they could happen to anyone, and questioned whether Lone would take responsibility in case of any untoward incident..
Speaking to reporters outside the House, Deputy Chief Minister said that despite being a victim of militancy, Lone appeared to have taken the issue lightly.
He accused Lone of politicising a sensitive matter and undermining the gravity of security concerns.
Choudhary referred to the killing of Lone’s father, stating that it was itself a consequence of security lapses, and said such sacrifices should not be trivialised.
Meanwhile, Lone accused the National Conference of having “weaponised” security mechanisms after 1996 by placing political opponents on overground worker lists and denying them police clearances and protection. He alleged that those not aligned with the party were left exposed to violence—(KNO)
