Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 13: A furore was witnessed in the Upper House of the State Legislature, causing disruption in the proceedings amidst heated exchanges, after opposition PDP members clashed with the National Conference and Congress MLCs on the issue of housing colonies today, followed by walk-out by all the NPP and PDP members.
The uproar on the issue was created in the House by the Opposition members during Question Hour. The pointed and straight question of PDP member Murtaza Ahmed Khan to the Minister incharge Housing Raman Bhalla invited the trouble. Mr Khan asked whether Government would ensures that only residents of J&K State having State Subjects are only provided the residential accommodation built by the State under Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojna (RGAY). He also sought the reply from the Government whether there are discrepancies in the allotment of accommodation, particularly in reference to the non-state subjects.
The PDP Legislator also sought reply whether `No Objection Certificate’ is taken from the Revenue Department about their Permanent Resident Certificates (PRCs) before making any such allotment. Mr Bhalla replied that all the necessary steps are taken before making such allotments. However, unsatisfied with the reply of the Minister Mr Khan insisted upon his question repeatedly and claimed that it was a serious issue. The chairman tried to make PDP member calm and directed to sit, claiming the Minister has replied the question ably and asked next member to raise the question, this irked the opposition members and all of them including Nizam-ud-din Khatana, Mohd Ashraf Mir and even NPP member Sayed Rafiq Shah also stood up to lodge their protest. Mr Rafiq claimed that it was, ‘murder of democracy’ and the “chair” was not allowing to seek reply from the Government and shielding Minister.
Murtaza Khan further said that the House needs an assurance from the Minister in this regard and since the Revenue Minister was also present in the Council, he should respond on whether clearance is being sought from his department before the allotment is made. Chairman Amrit Malhotra intervened and said the Minister has given the detailed reply to the main question and supplementaries and where was the question of involving Revenue Minister Aijaz Ahmed Khan. However, Murtaza pressed for his demand. He got involved in the arguments with the Chairman. Mr Khan raised allegations that Chairman was siding with the ruling party members but it was strongly resented by Devender Singh Rana, Ravinder Sharma, Naresh Gupta, Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy and other members who said that Murtaza Khan has tried to raise serious allegations against the ‘Chair’ and he should tender apology and take his words back.
It was followed by straight verbal spat between Murtaza Khan- Ashraf Mir verses Rana for some time. Nothing was clearly audible in the din and disruption continued in the house for about eight minutes. Mr Rana from NC who has earlier supported Khan and asked the Minister to ensure that no outsider is being accommodated in these colonies later alleged that PDP was playing to the Gallery. He also demanded that some objectionable words used by Muratza be expunged. Leader of the House and Minister for Planning and Development Ajay Sadhotra also intervened and remarked that Murtaza’s remarks were defamatory and amount to contempt of the House and the ‘Chair’. All the PDP members and one NPP member, then staged walk out at 11.52 pm.
Earlier, responding to the main question of Congress member Bashir Ahmed Magray and NC Legislator Dharambir Singh Mr Bhalla said it was not fact that Housing Board has not raised any colony in last four years in the State. The Minister maintained that Housing Board has developed housing colony at Reasi besides three sectors of Colony at Kathua have been developed. Moreover, plots on demand have been allotted to the people.
Replying to another question whether the Government was contemplating to raise new housing colonies in the entire State specially in all the district headquarters, Mr Bhalla said he was making efforts to set up such colonies in all the districts and not only at Jammu and Srinagar. Congress member Subash Gupta alleged that for Kathua Colony the process of land acquisition was started about 20 years back but even today, there were no lanes and even electric poles erected in the Colony so far. How much time the Government takes to develop this colony. Ghulam Qadir Pardesi also raised supplementary and alleged that Government has failed to develop colonies and fulfill housing need of the public in the State.
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