Although the issue of raising of pro-Pakistan slogans by National Conference (NC) MLA Mohammad Akbar Lone was resolved on the floor of the Legislative Assembly on Monday, a group within the BJP has decided to further raise the controversy to counter the Opposition’s attack.
This came after some political parties as well as a section of the Congress stepped up the attack on the BJP for its failure to counter Lone for hailing Pakistan in the Assembly.
BJP sources said the party leadership had given a green signal to a section of the party to raise the issue to blunt the Opposition’s attack.
After the controversy was resolved on the floor of the House, BJP MLA RS Pathania has lodged a written complaint with Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta against Lone, quoting Rule 247 of the Assembly Rules of Procedure.
“It is in the backdrop of acts/omissions of Mohammed Akbar Lone on February 10, 2018, i.e. the raising of pro-Pakistan slogans on the floor of the Assembly and then trying to justify them before the media. This amounts to not only ‘act of sedition’ while at the same is violation/abrogation of the oath,” Pathania said, adding that all MLAs take oath to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of the country. Pathania demanded unseating of Lone and registration of a first information report or other criminal proceedings against him.
Stepping up the attack against the NC, BJP spokesman Sunil Sethi said Lone had put a blot on the image of the political class. He said it was an extremely serious matter and the Speaker should refer it to the privileges committee.
For the past two days, Panthers Party has been targeting only the BJP regarding the controversy. “The BJP MLAs have hurt the nationalist sentiment and Dogra pride by maintaining a stoic silence while such slogans were raised on the floor of the House,” said Harsh Dev Singh, Panthers Party leader.
BJP legislator RS Pathania files written complaint against Akbar Lone
