BJP MLAs continue in J&K House despite expulsion

SRINAGAR: J&K Assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone on Tuesday said he has reserved his decision on the issue of cross-voting involving mostly BJP MLAs.

The issue cropped up in the House when BJP leader Ashok Khajuria accused members from treasury and opposition benches of "taking benefits from India and working against Indian interests."

He also told them that it is their fortune that they are part of India. "Had you been with Pakistan you would have been speaking Punjabi this time. You people have converted turmoil into an industry," he alleged.

This triggered pandemonium in the House with a number of NC and Congress MLAs accusing Khajuria of being a cross-voter. "If you can listen to barrister Mehmood Choudhry (PoK former premier who was in town last week) why cannot you listen me," Khajuri asked.

This led to a further uproar, with members asking the Speaker the status of the BJP letter that had asked for expulsion of majority of its MLAs after they defied the party whip.