Afzal Guru issue set to rock JK Assembly "again"

The first Assembly session of PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir, starting Wednesday, will witness confrontation between the alliance partners again and this time over the handing over the mortal remains of Afzal Guru to his family.
After a face-off over the release of separatist leader Masrat Alam, the two parties will again lock horns over the Afzal Guru issue and this time inside the Assembly.
BJP on March 12 had said it will oppose the resolution moved in the state Assembly by an independent MLA on the issue.
Independent MLA from north Kashmir's Langate constituency Sheikh Abdul Rashid has said that he had moved two resolutions in the Assembly including seeking return of mortal remains of Afzal.

First time MLA of BJP, Kavinder Gupta, who is set to take over Speaker of the Assembly, today told reporters here:"Afzal Guru is not the issue of Assembly. We will try to check it and oppose it."
He said that the BJP has a clear stand on it.

PDP had raised the issue during budget session last year while it was in opposition.
BJP also hoped of support from its coalition partner PDP on the matter.
"We are sure that PDP will support us and we both will oppose it (resolution on Afzal Guru)," BJP state spokesman Sunil Sethi told reporters here.

PDP spokesman Firdos Tak has said that PDP has its own stand on it and BJP has a different stand on it.
"The party has always maintained its stand that we always batted for the mortal remains of the Guru," he said.
Another PDP MLA from Kokernag, A R Rather, said "Party will decide. It will be collective decision of the party on it. BJP has a separate point of view on it. We cannot dictate BJP".
"They (BJP) have their own stand and we have our own stand on it. It is not necessary they go with our stand, we have made government on CMP, it shows that the difference do exits on some issues," Rather said.

"If there would have no difference, why would have there been a CMP. In my personal view, I will go by the resolution," Rather said.
On the issue, senior NC leader and several time former Minister, A R Rather said, "If it is discussed in the House, we will see and take a decision on it".
Rather, however, said that he has not talked to party leadership over it.