The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council witnessed ruckus today over the issue of alleged suicide bid by a woman IAS officer as the opposition demanded action against another bureaucrat in connection with the incident.
As soon as the House met, National Conference (NC) MLC Qaiser Jamshed Lone raised the issue and demanded action.
A report in a local newspaper last week had claimed that an IAS officer made an attempt to commit suicide minutes after another IAS officer had visited the former's official residence on June 17. The report, however, did not name the officers.
The woman IAS officer was among six officers transferred by the state cabinet on June 26.
Lone was supported by Congress member Ghulam Nabi Monga who wanted to know why no FIR has been registered in the case.
The opposition members demanded a statement from the government on the issue.
"The government is inquiring into the issue, you sit down," Council Chairman Anayat Ali told the members who stormed into the Well of the House, demanding a statement from the government and action against the officer.
Members of the ruling parties countered the Congress MLCs, leading to a verbal fight.
Leader of the House and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar asked the opposition members to name the officer against whom action needed to be taken.
"If they have a problem with someone, they should name that person... Have they named anybody? Do you have the moral strength? Can they name someone?... Who is he? Name him? Name the officer?" Akhtar said.
"I do not have divine power to know whom you are talking about. You name him... If you have guts, take the name," he said.
However, the opposition members continued to raise slogans against the government, prompting the Chairman to adjourn the House for five minutes.
When the House met again, the opposition members once again raised the issue and demanded a statement from the government. As the Chairman did not allow their demand, the protesting members staged a walkout.
(REOPENS NRG20)
Meanwhile, Congress accused Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti of failing to protect the image of a woman IAS officer and making her "a victim of political infighting and wrangling".
"Mehbooba ji has utterly and completely failed to protect the image of a young lady IAS officer and made her a victim of her party's infighting and wrangling," Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Nawang Rigzin Jora said in Jammu.
In a statement, Jora said "the allegation against the officer by PDP MLAs in the Assembly was actually PDP's internal power play coming in the open".
He said, "Unfortunately, this happened on the floor of the Assembly. Many of our MLAs also got drawn into it without realising the internal dynamics of PDP's power play. The result is sullying the image of a lady IAS officer who is known for her no-nonsense attitude."
"The Chief Minister being a woman did not think twice before ordering transfer of another woman," Jora said.
"Such is the attitude of our lady Chief Minister in whom the womenfolk had seen some hope. Toilets and buses for women may be important steps, but the most important thing for any woman is her respect," the Congress leader said.
