SRINAGAR: Awami Itihaad Party Supremo and MLA Langate Er Rashid , Er Sheikh Ab Rasheed Wednesday demanded release of a Muslim Leader from Jammu region.
As soon as the business resumed early today in lower house of the state legislature, Rasheed stood from seat and waived a copy of a newspaper seeking release of Syed Shabir Ahmad Shah, president Muslim Development Forum.
A newspaper published by a Srinagar based daily had said that Shah who lives in Mohalla Jeevan Shah, has been accused of being a “habitual criminal, mischievous cheater and a desperate character and a threat to peace”.
Shah has been booked under Public Safety Act (PSA) and the dossier reads, “He has created terror among locals and disturbs the tempo of life of the community resulting which general public is feeling insecure (sic).” “He has created terror among peace loving people of the area”. He has been arrested therof.
Referring to Shah’s participation in mourning function of late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Rasheed said, “has Shah been convicted because he participated in late Mufti’s Chahlum? You should have booked Communal elements of Samba; those who killed Ishtiyaq and Zahid.”
To this, Speaker Kavinder Gupta said, “it is (slapping PSA) is done to anti-national elements.”
As Rasheed continued his protest during Question Hour, he took PDP legislators head on alleging that they have “become brokers”. “You have left Muslims of Jammu at the mercy of right wing Hindus,” he told the PDP Ministers.
Rasheed was confronted by right wing BJP lawmakers who used abusive language against the Langate lawmaker. PDP lawmakers remained silent spectators.
As the din continued, Rasheed was joined by National Conference lawmakers, Congress’ Vikar Rasool and Communist lawmaker M Y Tarigami sought statement from government as “why a leader from a particular community was booked under PSA?”
As NC’s A M Sagar stood to raise the issue, he was stopped by Speaker much to the dismay of former Speaker Muhammad Akbar Lone. “You can’t do this,” Lone told Gupta, “you have no right to snub a senior lawmaker like this.”
PDP Minister, Ab Haq Khan tried to intervene saying, “this is an august house and we should respect it.” To this Rasheed responded, “bakwaas band karo. Kis Izzat ki baat kartay ho?”
Following this, Rasheed was marshalled out of the assembly