Speaker assures fair, impartial proceedings
*Most of parties for smooth Question Hour
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Feb 27: As the BJP with 28 MLAs categorically asserted that it will not tolerate any “unconstitutional, undemocratic or anti-national” agenda in the Legislative Assembly and that the Speaker should act neutral and don’t take dictations from the Chief Minister, there was virtually consensus at the All Party Meeting (APM) ahead of budget session of the Legislature that the Question Hour shouldn’t be disrupted by any political party as it was only mode to make the administration accountable after seven years.
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Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather had called the APM in his office chamber this morning to ensure smooth budget session of the Legislature beginning from March 3. Seeking cooperation of all political parties for uninterrupted proceedings in the House, Rather urged them to contribute actively in discussions and debates as MLAs are vital for highlighting issues of public welfare.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, who will forcefully lead the BJP charge in the Assembly after having emerged second largest party in September-October 2024 elections behind NC’s 41, told the Excelsior after the meeting that he made it clear to the Presiding Officer that his party will not tolerate any “unconstitutional, undemocratic and anti-national” question, bill or resolution or any other agenda in the House.
“I was assured by the Speaker that this will not happen,” Sharma said.
He said the Speaker should behave in unbiased manner in the House and don’t act on slips taken from Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah).
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader GA Mir told the Excelsior that he stressed that the House should function as per the rules.
“Proceedings of the Jammu and Kashmir are watched not only in the country but entire world. Political agendas should be left for outside the House. Inside the Assembly, the focus should be on business. Everyone must ensure that the Question Hour is not disrupted as people have lot of aspirations that their issues will be taken up in the Assembly,” Mir said.
Asserting that the Congress is part of coalition Government as it had pre-poll alliance with the National Conference, the CLP leader said the Congress will continue to raise people’s issues and there is no problem in it. Even the ruling party can take up public issues and this shouldn’t be treated as an opposition. “We are free to take up the public issues”.
Waheed ur Rehman Parra, the leader of three-member PDP, said he stressed that his party should be given adequate time to raise the House to run the House smoothly.
“We want constructive and productive budget session,” he said.
National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar and People’s Conference chairman Sajjad Gani Lone, who were invited to the All Party Meeting, didn’t attend.
However, NC leader and former Speaker Mubarak Gul said that the public issues need to be highlighted during the Assembly proceedings as legislators are face of the people.
CPM leader and fifth time MLA MY Tarigami said the Question Hour is more important to hold administration accountable after seven years and it shouldn’t be disrupted with one excuse or the other.
“People want their issues to be highlighted in the Assembly. All parties resolved to cooperate with the Chair and ensure that the business is taken up in the House without any disruption,” Tarigami said.
BJP leader Surjit Singh Slathia and Independent MLA from Thannamandi Muzaffar Iqbal Khan also attended the meeting. Khan sought proportionate time for all MLAs while raising public issues in the Legislature.
In his address, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said the budget session is crucial time for policy deliberations and financial planning and urged the members to engaged in meaningful debates, uphold House decorum and work towards collective good of the people as well as Jammu and Kashmir. He urged the legislators to utilise the time to hold the Government accountable,
He said the Question Hour should be used by the MLAs to raise public concerns and seek concrete responses. He stressed for effective coordination among political parties during entire session of the House. Productivity of the House is possible only if there is coordination between Opposition and Government in highlighting people’s issues and addressing them accordingly.
Rather assured the All Party Meeting of fair and impartial proceedings in the House.
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