Rage and fury in Jammu & Kashmir Assembly over 'sahib' Afzal Guru's body

Pandemonium broke out in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly which was adjourned thrice today following Opposition protests over Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde' statement that the body of Afzal Guru will not be returned to his family.

At one stage, PDP members jumped onto the reporters' tables on the floor of the House forcing the staff to leave their chairs while Independent MLA Abdul Rashid threw mikes and tried to throw chairs and tables but was prevented by the marshals who evicted him out.

As the PDP and Independent MLAs pressed for the return of the body of Afzal to his family, there was a demand that the Assembly pass a resolution for return of the body of the Parliament attack convict. Afzal was buried in Tihar jail in Delhi after he was hanged on February 9.

Even as Shinde's statement triggered unruly scenes, sloganeering and high-pitched verbal duel by the entire Opposition, members of BJP strongly objected to Law Minister Mir Saifullah suffixing Afzal Guru with title of 'Sahib',

Raising slogans 'Bharat mata ki jai', BJP members also stood atop tables amid shouting of slogans by members of treasury benches.

Shinde yesterday ruled out handing over Afzal's body to his family in Kashmir, saying "The body has been buried according to the jail manual and there was no way it could be handed over."

Making a statement in the House in a bid to calm the tempers down, the Law Minister said: "The issue is connected with the sentiments of the people and with this House -- this House is representing the sentiments of the people."

He further said, "Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's stand has been that mortal remains of the Afzal Guru 'Sahib' should be returned back -- it is also the stand of National Conference (NC)...."

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