Uproar in Assembly over BJP MLA’s “religious bias” remark

Srinagar: The Legislative Assembly on Wednesday witnessed uproarious scenes following remarks by BJP MLA Shagun Parihar, who claimed that a road project in her constituency is repeatedly being dropped because Hindus reside there.
During the Zero Hour MLA from Kishtwar alleged that the road project from Chattar to Oli is being excluded due to the presence of a Hindu nationalist population in the area. “It is a Hindu-populated area. People with nationalist views live there. That is the reason why the road project keeps getting dropped,” she claimed.
Her remarks evoked protests from the treasury benches, with some members questioning the BJP legislator, asking whether Muslims are not nationalists.
“There is no bigger nationalist than us. We have borne the brunt of militancy. We have lost 80000 people for the nation. We have rendered sacrifices for the nation,” NC’s Nazir Gurezi shouted.
Amid din in the House, the Congress legislators, Irfan Hafiz Lone and Iftikhar Ahmad, accused the BJP legislator of playing communal politics.
Minister for Rural Development Department Javed Dar BJP legislator of giving communal spin to the issue.
Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Javaid Dar, accused the BJP legislator of giving a communal spin to the issue.
“She should not speak like that. She should withdraw her remarks. These statements should not be recorded,” Dar demanded, as BJP legislators stood up in support of Shagun.
Intervening in the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said that Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir are as nationalist as Hindus.
“Similarly, Sikhs and Christians are also nationalists,” he said