BJP ‘Divided’ over FIR against Army in Shopian shootout case

Although there is nationwide outrage against the registration of a murder case against the Army men allegedly involved in the Shopian firing incident without completion of the inquiry, the ruling BJP appears to be divided over the demand.
In two successive days, some young lawmakers of the BJP have demanded the withdrawal of FIR but no other “senior” party member has supported it. Seniors preferred to maintain a guarded silence over this issue.
During a debate on grants of the PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control departments this evening, BJP MLA from Akhnoor Rajeev Sharma suddenly stood up from his seat and raised the demand. “How can a murder case be registered against Army persons without completion of the inquiry?” asked Sharma. He demanded that FIR should also be registered against those stone-throwers who had attacked the Army convoy in Shopian followed by the firing incident.
Sharma was repeatedly interrupted by NC members but none of his party members echoed his demand.
On Monday, party MLA from Ramnagar RS Pathania objected to the FIR being registered since an inquiry had not been conducted. He asked the government to lodge a new FIR without naming anybody. His statement comes a day after his colleague from Nowshera, Ravinder Raina, justified the Army’s move to fire at the civilians.
A young BJP leader, who wished not to quoted, told The Tribune that senior party members had failed to take stand on this highly emotive issue. “We are facing pressure from our supporters to take a tough stand against the registration of the FIR but party leadership has failed to evolve a consensus,” he said and added that senior members had not shown encouraging response to their demand of withdrawing FIR against the Army.