Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 8: Ruling Alliance partners National Conference and Congress have traded charges over release of “less funding” to the State Government by the Centre for some projects in the Legislative Assembly.
After yesterday’s outbursts against the Centre Government headed by Congress led UPA by National Conference MLA and former Minister Dr Mustafa Kamaal, Congress MLA and former Minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori today took strong exception to the charges prompting Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar to intervene and clarify the position.
Participating in debate on the general budget 2013-14 in the Legislative Assembly today, Mr Saroori, Congress MLA from Inderwal and a loyalist of Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, took serious note of some MLAs raising their finger towards Congress led UPA Government for not releasing adequate funds to Jammu and Kashmir.
Without naming Dr Mustafa Kamaal, who was seating along side him in the Assembly, the former Congress Minister said the UPA Government has lavishly released funds for Jammu and Kashmir in various sectors.
“The coalition members have no right to speak against the UPA Government. The Congress Government at the Centre has released huge funds for the State Government”, Mr Saroori said, adding that the member has also spoken against the country, which was wrong.
Dr Kamaal in his speech on the budget proposals yesterday had accused the Centre of delaying release of funds for Jammu and Kashmir saying they seemed least interested in development of the State. He had cautioned that “if such kind of attitude of the Centre continued towards the State, the day will come when the rope, which had united Jammu and Kashmir with Union of India, will break”.
Dr Kamaal had said: “the people were annoyed and they have distanced themselves from India. This distance is not good”.
National Panthers Party (NPP) MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia wanted Mr Saroori to name the coalition members in the House, who have spoken against the UPA Government and the country. Mr Saroori, however, didn’t respond to Mr Mankotia’s request.
Intervening in the debate, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister and National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar clarified that there had been no talks against the Centre Government but a member had spoken against the system in which the people have been facing problems.
“There had been no talks against the UPA Government or the Union of India but a member has spoken against the system only”, Mr Sagar clarified.
Worthwhile to mention here that both Dr Mustafa Kamaal and Ghulam Mohammad Saroori have been seated together in the Legislative Assembly.
In his budget speech, Mr Saroori demanded implementation of Rangarajan Committee report, release of equal funds for Kishtwar district and creation of new administrative units. He regretted that there had been no mention in the budget on implementation of Rangarajan report and creating of new administrative units.
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