Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 1: Entire Opposition today staged walk-out in the Legislative Assembly alleging discrimination with their constituencies in macadamization of roads in Srinagar and charging the Government with playing politics in development. The walkout was followed by heated exchanges between Works Minister Naeem Akhter and Opposition MLAs from National Conference especially those elected from Srinagar district, leading to din in the House for more than 10 minutes during which allegations and counter allegations were leveled by the two sides.
As soon as Minister of State for Works Sunil Sharma finished his reply to the question on macadamization of roads in Srinagar district in the absence of Naeem Akhter, who was not present in the House during Question Hour due to illness, National Conference members Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mubarak Gul, Shamima Firdous, Mian Altaf and Altaf Ahmad Wani `Kalloo’ were on their feet saying the constituencies represented by the Opposition members have been “blatantly discriminated” in macadamization of roads. They also cited figures given in the Assembly by the Government in response to the question of Gul.
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Shamima Firdous trooped into Well of the House alleging discrimination in construction of roads and not being allowed to raise supplementary, Habbakdal comparing the tarring and paving of roads to other constituencies represented by members of the ruling parties. Walking into the Well of the House, she said just eight kilometers of road had been macadamized in two years in her constituency and sought a reply from the Government.
Sagar read out the figures given by the Government saying as against 161.07 kilometers roads length macadamized in Amirakadal constituency, held by a Minister during 2015-16, only 25, 17 and 8 kilometers roads were macadamized in three Assembly segments, held by the National Conference in Srinagar district.
“It was not only discrimination with National Conference but even the PDP legislators, who were not Ministers, have been discriminated. Lion’s share in construction of roads in Srinagar district has gone to the segments held by the Ministers like Altaf Bukhari, Asiea Naqash and Ashraf Mir, who was previously a Minister,” Sagar said.
NC MLA Altaf Ahmad Kalloo demanded a discussion on the issue and sought intervention of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who was present in the House.
PDF MLA from Khansahib, Hakim Mohammad Yasin said the MLAs were asked during late Mufti Sayeed’s time to recommend construction of roads in their constituencies under CRF, NABARD and PMGSY. “Again when Altaf Bukhari was the Works Minister, we were asked to recommend works, which we did. What is the fun of giving lists, if the Government doesn’t have to carry out works in our segments?”, he asked.
Congress MLA from Inderwal and former Minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori also joined the issue and alleged discrimination in developmental works with the Assembly segments held by the Opposition members.
All Opposition members from National Conference, Congress and lone CPM and PDF MLAs MY Tarigami and Hakim Mohammad Yasin staged a noisy walk-out in the Assembly in protest against discrimination with their segments in macadamization of roads shouting slogans like ‘Banderbaant Nahin Chalegi’ and ‘Discrimination Nahin Chalegi’. Some of the MLAs tore off their papers and flung them in the House before staging walk-out.
Former Chief Minister and National Conference working president Omar Abdullah also joined the walk-out.
After sometime, Naeem Akhter returned to the House and referred to the walk-out staged by the Opposition members alleging discrimination on roads saying he was unwell and couldn’t come to the House earlier. He said the Government needs Rs 440 crores to complete all under construction bridges for which a three year plan has been formulated,
“The Finance Ministry has agreed to give Rs 75 crores this year, in addition to the normal function. We will prioritize and complete bridges,” he said.
On the charges of discrimination, Naeem said the Assembly constituencies can’t be equated as Ramnagar in Udhampur district has 350 kilometers road while City East in Jammu has far less road network. Similarly, he said, there was vast different between Amirakadal and Habbakadal segments.
This provoked the National Conference members as Naeem also fired some political salvos against them, which were strongly retaliated by the Opposition members, almost all of whom were on their feet.
“Don’t browbeat me,” Naeem shouted at the Opposition members as allegations and counter allegations were leveled between treasury and Opposition benches for more than 10 minutes during which voice of most of the members was lost in the din and nothing was audible. In the melee, Naeem was also heard telling an NC MLA that he will file an FIR against him. The MLAs from ruling PDP and BJP came out in support of the Works Minister.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri said the Minister has the right to give his version and the opposition members should listen to him.
The order was restored in the House after Speaker Kavinder Gupta declared that Question Hour was over.
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