Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 1: The Upper House of the State Legislature today was rocked by the noisy scenes, adjournment and walkout by the opposition NC members over the issues of discrimination against Kashmir Valley in distribution of power sector funds and failure to fix a time-frame for elections to Block Development Councils.
As the Legislative Council today commenced its normal business, the National Conference members including Showkat Ganai, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Bashir Ahmed Veeri and Ali Mohd Dar stood from their seats and held protests, accusing the State Government of discriminating against Kashmir Valley over the distribution of power infrastructure funds.
While seeking reply from the Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, who is the Minister incharge for Power, the NC members from Valley trooped into the `Well’ of the House and protested over the release of funds for the repair of damaged transformers in Kashmir valley. They started raising slogans.
It is pertinent to mention here that State Planning Department on Tuesday released Rs 3.5 crore for the repair of damaged power transformers in the State, out of which Rs 2.5 crore was released for Jammu and Rs 1 crore for Kashmir Valley.
Another NC member Shahnaaz Ganai also protested in `Well’ of the House by throwing a question paper over the failure to take up her resolution on Mughal Road in the Council. She claimed that an important issue related to welfare of the people of Rajouri-Poonch has been ignored.
As the opposition members continued to disrupt the House, Chairman Jahangir Mir adjourned the House for 10 minutes.
After the adjournment, the House again resumed its business but the NC members continued to protest seeking a reply from the Government. They also had heated arguments with the PDP member Surinder Choudhary and Vivod Gupta from BJP, who shouted at NC members, saying “Why are you only bothered about Kashmir only, you should also think about Jammu areas like Rajouri-Poonch and Doda?”
Naresh Gupta from Congress intervened and asked the protesting NC members they have habit of harping on Kashmir- Kashmir while power infrastructure is badly damaged in Doda-Kishtwar, Ramban. They don’t see discrimination with Jammu over flood relief money worth Rs 300 crore for Kashmir and Rs 1600 crore sanctioned for AIIMS in Kashmir. Why BJP members have turned silent now over the issue?
The NC member Qaiser Lone claimed that State Government, which talked of the equitable distribution of the funds has discriminated with Kashmir in release of funds meant for Power infrastructure. The members wanted to know about the discrimination against the people of Kashmir who have suffered more due to the incessant rains and floods in the State.
“There is more damage caused to power infrastructure in Kashmir valley, but it got less funds than Jammu”, he said.
Minister for CAPD Ch Zulfkar Ali while intervening said that Minister In-charge Power, Dr Nirmal Singh will make a statement in the House over the issue.
Meanwhile, during the Question Hour, Congress members Gulam Nabi Monga and Sham Lal Bhagat posed a question to the Government about the time-frame set for elections to Block Development Councils and the Chairmen.
Replying to the question, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Abdul Haq Khan said, “It is under consideration”.
Unsatisfied by the reply of the minister, the Congress and NC members – G N Monga, S L Bhagat, Dr Shehnaz Ganai and Ali Mohmmad Dar – walked into the Well of the House, protested and sought exact time frame for elections. Later, they staged walkout from the House.
However, the minister while hitting out at the opposition NC and Congress, for the delay in the elections said, “They should be ashamed of the state of affairs during their regime. They are the people who were responsible for everything on these elections. We are in Government for past a month. What have they done during last 6 years ? Now they seek each reply from us. They are holding us responsible for the sins committed by their regime,” Mr Khan maintained.
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