Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 18: The noisy scenes were witnessed in the Upper House of the State Legislature today following a tiff between the Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma and National Conference member Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri.
Amidst heated exchanges between the two, the NC member staged walk out of the House, claiming that Minister’s reply was misleading. He alleged that it has become `habit’ to mislead the House and say anything. A wrong information has been provided to the members. He also strongly protested against the allegations raised by Minister and claimed that he had approached the Minister only to get two JEs attached for unsatisfactory performance and not get their transfers at the place of choice.
As Mr Veeri returned to the House after some time after walk out, he again stood up while addressing to the `chair’ and alleged that PHE Minister raised serious allegations against him and even called him as `black-mailer’ when he left. He said the Minister has tried the tarnish his image and he would bring privilege motion against him. The Minister has to prove these allegations. The NC member claimed that he had gone to the Minister some time back only to get a few officials attached and not for choice transfers.
The chairman snubbed the member and said since Minister was not in House, it was unfair to raise issue in his absence. He said the Minister was not present to defend himself and asked the members to take his seat.
The issue was raised during Question Hour today. The PHE Minister was replying to the main question of Dr Veeri. As the member contested that information was wrong and misleading, the Minister said that he would get the matter inquired and take action if any official provided him wrong information but the member should stick to his stand. The matter pertained to Water Supply Schemes in Bijbehara constituency. Veeri claimed that several schemes were lying defunct while it has been mentioned as functional in the reply of the Minister. He stressed for time bound inquiry and also offered not to raise any question again if his claim was found wrong.
Dr Veeri read the reply from the papers provided, indicating contradiction and abruptly said, “ Ye Chhupa Chhupi Ka Khel Kya hai….., the Minister should tell the truth to the House.” This irked the Minister, who cautioned the member not to become over smart. Mr Sharma said, he also belonged to political family like him and he never tried to hide the facts. He also warned Mr Veeri to expose him before the House and said that he knew it very well why Member was behaving like this. He also knew how to diagnose the internal ailments, the Minister remarked.
While exposing Mr Veeri in the House, the PHE Minister alleged that Member had come to him some time back to get two JEs and one AE transferred. It would be unfair to disturb these people under political considerations. So he refused to oblige. Not only this, from one place in his area the PSOs of this member kidnapped driver and forcibly lifted machinery of the PHE Department to another place of his choice. He said an FIR has also been lodged in this regard. “ Is it the democracy or way to get the works done,” the Minster remarked.
Upon this the member got agitated and denied allegations. He also claimed that Minister was raising baseless allegations against him. The people of his area were facing severe water crisis and the department has failed to provide adequate water supply. The machines were needed where water crisis is acute. The Minister claimed that he was not ready to work for a particular party, as for him Congress, PDP or other legislators were equally important.
Earlier, the PHE Minister stated that Government has to provide 135 lt per capita drinking water to urban population and 55 lts to rural. At present 8.03 MLD drinking water in rural areas and 2.72 MLD in urban areas of Bijbehara is being provided, which he admitted was less as per guidelines. He also claimed that 16 Water Supply Schemes were functional in rural and urban areas which are closed and 10 WSS are going on in the constituency.
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