Opposition stages walkout in Kashmir assembly

JAMMU - Opposition legislators walked out of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly Tuesday after staging noisy protests in the house.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, including its president and legislature party leader Mehbooba Mufti, wanted Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone to accept their adjournment motion and discuss the situation in the Valley where it alleged that “innocents” were being arrested and harassed.

PDP legislators walked up to the speaker’s chair to register their protest, following which the speaker asked them to resume their seats. But the PDP legislators did not budge and marshals had to be called in. After a minor scuffle with the marshals, the PDP members walked out of the house.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members staged a walkout protesting a police baton charge on agricultural technocrats outside the secretariat Monday. The BJP members said the agricultural technocrats were seeking jobs and not doing anything to disturb the peace.