Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed a tense and sensational moment on Thursday when National Conference (NC) legislator Dr. Bashir Ahmad Veeri made “controversial remarks” during obituary references, triggering laughter, protests, and a stern intervention by the Speaker.
Dr. Veeri referred to the controversial “fax machine” incident involving former Governor Satya Pal Malik and also described late BJP leader Ramesh Arora as a member of a “communal party.” Veeri claimed that while Arora was secular, he had affiliations with the BJP and RSS. The remarks immediately drew objections from BJP members, who accused him of disrespecting a deceased leader.
The reference to the 2018 fax machine controversy, when the then Governor allegedly cited a malfunctioning fax machine to deny receiving a government formation letter, prompted laughter among some legislators.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather promptly intervened, cautioning Veeri:
“Please do not make political comments against the departed. Let us maintain the sanctity of this occasion.”
Reaffirming the decorum expected during obituary references, the Speaker directed Veeri not to make any further controversial statements. BJP members’ objections were endorsed, and all legislators were urged to show respect while paying tributes.
Following the intervention, Dr. Veeri continued his remarks without further controversial references, and the House resumed normal proceedings.
The episode became a sensational highlight of the session, sparking debates and intense attention across political circles in the Valley.
WHAT IS “FAX MACHINE” INCIDENT INVOLVING SATYA PAL MALIK
The “fax machine” incident, often dubbed the “Faxgate” or “one-way fax machine” controversy, refers to a highly contentious political episode in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on November 21, 2018, during Satya Pal Malik’s tenure as the state’s Governor.
It centered on the alleged malfunction of a fax machine at Raj Bhavan (the Governor’s residence), which prevented opposition leaders from submitting formal claims to form a government, leading to the abrupt dissolution of the J&K Legislative Assembly.
The event sparked widespread accusations of political maneuvering by the central government under the BJP, memes, and jokes about the “broken” fax, and remains a defining, farcical moment in Indian political history.
