Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 4: A furore was witnessed in the State Legislative Council today as the coalition partners, National Conference (NC) and Congress members entered into a verbal duel with Minister for Social Welfare Sakina Ittoo over the functioning of State Commission for Backward Classes.
NC legislator, Javed Ahmad Rana from Mendhar while raising the issue of some of the villages in his area, which have still not been provided with the basic amenities like road connectivity, power supply and schools, said that even after repeated submissions made by him to the Commission in last 10 years, nothing has been done to include these areas into the Backward category (RBA).
“For last 10 years, we have been writing to include these villages in the Resident of Backward Area (RAB) category, but nothing has been done. What is the Commission doing,”? Rana asked.
Ms Itoo replied that randomly any area cannot be declared as backward as there are certain norms involved in this regard.
She said that if everyone will demand inclusion of his area into the reserve category, the whole State will turn into a backward area, adding that just a representation from a legislator was not enough to declare the area as backward.
‘Kisi MLA Ya MLC Ke Kahene Pe Thora Ho Jayega, Iske Liye Norms Bane Hein,” she remarked.
This instigated Rana and some other legislators including Jegangir Mir from Congress, Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy from NC and Ravinder Sharma from Congress. They alleged that the Commission did not pay attention to the representations made by people of these villages and neither was it listening to the legislators.
“If it don’t require recommendation of public representatives, will the Commission do it at its own. Is there any such mechanism of including such areas at its own or exclude by the Commission after observing at its own that such and such area do not require RBA status. Has it, ever done so, the minister should reply”? they asked.
They got involved in direct spat with the minister. They further pointed out that the Commission members have never bothered to come out of AC offices in Jammu and Srinagar capital cities to visit the backward areas to have its own assessment or meet with the general people.
Mr Rana got furious and entered into brawl with the minister. The Chairman Amrit Malhotra tried to cool down the members several times but heated exchanges went on for some time. The minister remarked, “Chilane Se Kuch Nahin Hota, Is ke Liye norms Bane Hain.” Mr Rana alleged that Commission has turned defunct and the members of the House are not being given proper reply by minister.
He moved away from his seat and threatened to walk out in protest. Two three more members stood up supporting him. Some ruling coalition members tried to cool down Rana and asked him not to do this and occupy his seat. It was apparently an embarrassing situation for the Government.
Mr Rana said the Government must reply that what happened to their representations. What is the progress and if their request was not accepted what was the reason of rejection. Senior Congress Member Jehangir Mir tried to raise supplementary but the minister snubbed and remarked, “have patience let me reply first”.
Chairman Amrit Malhotra intervened, but it had no effect on Rana, who walked towards the well alleging that the Commission was not working properly and threatened to stage a walk-out from the House.
Congress legislators Ravinder Kumar Sharma and Jehangir Hussain Mir, meanwhile, endorsed Rana’s views. Mr Mir said the minister should not get irritated, she should behave calmly and respond to the queries of the members and clear their doubts.
NC MLAs Khalid Najeeb Suhrawardy and Sheikh Ghulam Rasool also raised their voice against the functioning of the Commission, with the latter alleging that more than 1,000 applications were pending before the Commission and gathering dust.
At this, Itoo said that the Commission was an autonomous body and the decisions made by it were based on the findings of the District Development Commissioners.
The minister also informed that the Commission has received 23 representations from Mendhar area including villages Sangoite, Nakamanzhori lower, Chhtral, Batadusrian and Bunola and added that requisite information from Deputy Commissioner concerned has been sought by the Commission.
She said as soon as the information was received, the cases of these villages shall be accorded consideration by the Government.
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