large army of first time BJP MlAs on Tuesday registered their presence in the Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly by occupying Treasury Benches wearing saffron turbans and chanting patriotic slogans hailing ‘Mother India’ after taking oath as legislators of the 12th State Assembly.
Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed, leader of Opposition Omar Abdullah and separatist-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad lone also took oath as legislators amid thumping of the desks. A large number of supporters of different political parties were present in the jam-packed galleries on both sides of the House to witness the proceedings of the historic Assembly.
First time BJP MlA from Nowshera Assembly segment Ravinder Raina created flutter in the House by invoking Mata Vaishno Devi in place of God at the time of taking oath. Before climbing the stairs in the House Raina paid obeisance by bowing his head in reverence.
As Protem Speaker of the House Mohd Shafi Uri and some of the senior legislators sitting on the Opposition Benches raised objections Raina was directed by the Speaker to take oath in the name of God otherwise he won’t be allowed.
Feigning ignorance about the ‘form of oath’ as per Rules of procedure of the House Raina tried hard to convince the members in the House that he is a true worshiper of Maa Vaishnodevi and consider her as his Ishwar (God).
Standing by the Speaker’s side Raina even pointedly made mention of the fact that some people take oath in the name of Jesus Christ and Holy Allah then why can’t he take oath in the name of Mata Vaishnodevi.
As several other members in the House started raising objections from their seats Raina was signaled by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh and the Chief Minister to take oath in the name of God to further avoid any embarrassment on the floor of the House.
Raina later took oath in the name of God in Hindi. legislators hailing from different regions of the State took oath in their local language. Majority of them were seen wearing traditional dresses and turbans. legislators from Jammu region preferred Dorgi and Hindi while those hailing from Kashmir and ladakh region took oath in Urdu, Pahadi, Kashmiri and English.
Some of the BJP legislators also participated in special prayers organised in a temple located inside the Civil Secretariat complex. Emerging out of the State legislature Complex a group of BJP legislators led by Ravinder Raina also unfurled national tricolour and chanted slogans eulogising Mother India.
The BJP MlAs had earlier assembled near the statues of Majaraja Hari Singh -- the last Dogra ruler and Pandit Prem Nath Dogra before proceeding towards the Civil Secretariat complex. The BJP legislators also garlanded the statues and took pledge to serve the people of the State without compromising with the national security at all costs. Setting the tone for the maiden session of the State Assembly, BJP legislators also made it clear that any attempt made by the some of the legislators to rake up contentious issues and anti-National agenda would be defeated and dealt with on the floor of the House very ‘firmly’.
Referring to the private members resolution moved by Independent legislator Engineer Abdul Rashid BJP MlA Ravinder Raina claimed, “We won’t let him table the resolution.” On the other hand PDP legislator and senior Minister Javaid Mustafa Mir clarified PDP would take a call on the private members resolution only when it is tabled in the House. “It is too early to comment on something which is yet to take place in the House,” he added.