Autumn session of JK Assembly begins

Srinagar, Sep 26: The nine-day autumn session of Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly began today (Sept 26) with the House paying homage to former legislators from the state who have died since the last session held in April.

Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone moved the obituary reference for former speaker of the state Assembly Ghulam Mohammad Mir Rajpori, former legislators Sadiq Ali, Ahmadullah Azad and Nazir Ahmad Mir.

Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather, PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, BJP leaders Chaman Lal Gupta and Jugal Kishore, CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami, Congress leader Mohammad Sharief Niaz and Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid paid tribute to these former members of the state legislature.

Rashid urged the House to also include the civilians killed in militancy-related violence or at the hands of security forces in the obituary references in future.

The House observed two minutes of silence as a mark of respect for the departed souls. The nine-day session of the Assembly is expected to be stormy as several controversial issues are scheduled to be discussed and debated.

Issues relating to the clemency plea for Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, unmarked graves, human rights violations and corruption are likely to dominate the proceedings from on Tuesday.

The Assembly is scheduled to debate on Wednesday the resolution moved by Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid seeking clemency for Guru, who is on death row for his role in the attack on Parliament in December 2001.

Main Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has already made it clear that it will support the clemency resolution while BJP has decided to oppose it.

National Conference and Congress are yet to announce their decision whether to support or oppose the resolution.

The repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the state is also likely to figure in the discussions as CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami has moved a resolution seeking revocation of the orders declaring the state as a disturbed area.

Revocation of the Disturbed Areas Act will make AFSPA inapplicable in the state.

PTI