Panthers Party MLA suspended, thrown out of J&K Assembly

Srinagar, Aug 21 (UNI) Panthers Party legislator Harshdev Singh was today physically evicted from the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after being suspended for the rest of the ongoing session for threatening to ''murder'' a Minister.

As soon as the House re-assembled at 1420 hrs, Rural Development Minister Jugal Kishore (Congress) alleged that Mr Singh had manhandled and abused him outside the Assembly Hall soon after the second adjournment at 1130 hrs.

Mr Kishore alleged that the Panthers Party legislator threatened to murder him in presence of some members and bureaucrats. ''He hit and abused me. I was saved by CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami who stopped and took him away. We are legislators, representatives of the people and not criminals,'' he added.

The Minister said he did not expect such a behaviour from a member who was awarded a letter of appreciation for being a well behaved legislator and demanded strict action against him.

On his part, Mr Singh, a former Education Minister, said he had tried to contact the Minister several times on phone over the issue of suspension of a senior assistant. ''He is misleading the House. I tried to contact him several times, but he did not answer my calls.

The suspension resulted in the death of the employee.'' The Panthers Party member said the senior assistant was given a clean chit by a departmental committee in its report on March 15, stating he was innocent and suspended under ''selfish motive''.

However, the employee was not reinstated even after six months till August 6 the day he approached the Minister, Mr Singh added.

''On being refused any help, the suspended employee suffered a heart attack and died the same day. I told him (Mr Kishore) that you are a murderer. He is trying to hide his incompetence. Minister ho gaya to Khuda ho gaya (He is a Minister and not a God,'' he said.

The Minister said he had also submitted a written complaint to Assembly Speaker Tara Chand in this regard.

On this, Health and Education Minister Mangat Ram Sharma (Congress) alleged that the Panthers Party legislator had told him some time ago that he would soon ''kill the Minister (Mr Kishore)''.

He then moved a motion, seeking suspension of the Panthers Party member for the remaining period of the ongoing session.

The Speaker admitted the motion, which was passed by a voice vote. The Panthers Party member was then suspended for the rest of the ongoing session.

As Mr Singh refused to leave, the Speaker ordered for his removal from the House. The Marshals then physically dragged the Panthers Party legislator out of the House.

The other members of the Panthers Party protested in the well of the House against the motion and later staged a walk-out.

UNI