Medical admissions spark off uproar in JK assembly
The Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Monday expelled
17 members -- belonging to the Bharatiya
Janata Party, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party and
others -- for the rest of the session.
The legislators had 'obstructed' proceedings in
the House.
A resolution to this effect was moved by Law and
Parliamentary Affairs Minister P L Handoo and seconded by Finance
Minister Mohammad Shafi.
When question hour began, Opposition members charged
that students from the Jammu region had been discriminated against during the selection to the state medical collages. As Speaker Ali Mohammad Naik did not allow the discussion, the members came to the well of
the House and started shouting slogans.
The speaker adjourned the House for
half an hour at 1020 hours, but the members refused to leave.
Finally, the watch and ward staff had to remove them forcibly.
At least 12 members and four watch and ward officials were injured, and some
furniture and mikes damaged in the melee.
The House resumed proceedings after about
an hour when Handoo
moved the resolution to expel the members. It adopted the resolution unanimously.
Later, speaking in the House, Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah termed the
incident as 'unfortunate'. Though
members may have had
complaints, this was not the right way to
resolve a problem, he said.
Inviting
the expelled members to resolve issues through dialogue, Dr Abdullah
said the government has kept its doors open
to talk on any issue.
On issue of admissions to medical colleges, he denied the Opposition's allegation.
The list is cent per cent impartial, prepared by computer which eliminated the possibility of irregularity, he said.
Dr Abdullah also said the government was ready to initiate an inquiry into the
matter by any committee or authority which
had the confidence
of the House. If any irregularities were found, the list would
be scrapped and appropriate action taken
against the offenders.
UNI
Elections '98
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