Panthers Party members attend J

Srinagar, Aug 30 (UNI) The three Panthers Party legislators, who have been boycotting the proceedings of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for the past few days, today attended the House after they were persuaded by some members to resume their seats.

The Panthers Party members were on protest outside the Assembly Hall following the suspension of their party colleague Harshdev Singh after he had allegedly threatened to kill a minister.

National Conference (NC) member Nazir Gurezi raised a point of order in the House during the proceedings after the lunch break, urging Deputy Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone to call back the Panthers Party legislators.

Health Minister Mangat Ram Sharma said the Panthers Party members were not sent out of the House, but were boycotting the proceedings on their own.

Mr Gurezi and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member Ghulam Hassan Khan then called back the Panthers Party members and escorted them to their seats.

The Panthers Party members were carrying hand written banners, seeking revocation of the suspension of Mr Singh. Some of the banners read ''Save Democracy''.

However, Mr Lone then asked the Marshals to snatch the banners from the Panthers Party members.

Later, Panthers Party legislator Balwant Singh Mankotia requested Speaker Tara Chand to take a decision on their motion, seeking revocation of the suspension of Mr Singh.

The Speaker said they (Panthers Party) would be informed of the decision later on which he said it was not a border issue between India and Pakistan that it would take 60 years for its resolution.

NC member Sharif-ud-din Shariq also urged the Speaker to resolve the matter immediately as the House was to sit for one day more only in the present session.

UNI