Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 2: Opposition MLAs from BJP breakaway group, National Panthers Party and Jammu State Morcha today staged a walk-out in the Legislative Assembly in protest against rejection of their private member’s bills and resolutions seeking constitution of Delimitation Commission to increase and rotate reserved Assembly seats in Jammu region.
As soon as the House began its proceedings for the day, NPP MLAs—Harshdev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yash Pal Kundal and JSM legislator Ashwani Sharma raised the issue of constitution of Delimitation Commission in the State. BJP breakaway group leader Prof Chaman Lal Gupta also supported the demand.
Mr Sharma and Mr Mankotia said they had submitted private member’s bills and resolutions on setting up of Delimitation Commission, which hadn’t been listed.
Speaker Mubarak Gul assured the members that he would allow them to raise the issue during Zero Hour and they shouldn’t make a debate out of it.
Congress MLAs and former Ministers Mohammad Sharief Niaz and Ghulam Mohammad Saroori were seen countering the Opposition MLAs on the issue of Delimitation Commission.
Mr Saroori said the delimitation of constituencies has been frozen till 2026 by an Act of the Legislature.
NPP MLA Harshdev Singh urged the Speaker to allow resolution on constitution of Delimitation Commission and fix debate on it.
Mr Mankotia said the Congress had taken votes on the name of Delimitation Commission but were now opposing constitution of the Commission.
Harshdev Singh the 2002 Common Minimum Programme of Congress –PDP Government, drafted by Dr Manmohan Singh (now Prime Minister of India) had assured constitution of the Delimitation Commission.
Mr Kundal said the reserved constituencies had to be rotated after every two to three terms. However, he added, in J&K already three elections have been held on reserved seats and candidates of general categories were feeling isolated as the seats were not being rotated.
He said the State agreed to Parliament’s proposal of freezing delimitation till 2026 but not reducing term of the Assembly to five year.
“The Government does whatever suits them,’’ Mr Kundal said.
Ashwani Sharma said Jammu region was being deprived of political powers by not setting up the Delimitation Commission.
Harshdev pointed out that every State has the Delimitation Commission excepting Jammu and Kashmir.
After 16 minutes of uproar in the Assembly during which the Question Hour remained disrupted, the NPP, JSM and BJP breakaway group MLAs excepting Prof Gharu Ram Bhagat staged a walk-out in the Assembly. Mr Bhagat didn’t walk-out as the Speaker had taken up his question.
Speaking to media persons outside the Assembly separately, NPP MLAs—Harshdev Singh and Balwant Singh Mankotia and JSM MLA Ashwani Sharma said that delay in constitution of the Commission was a clear case of discrimination with Jammu region.
“Jammu has more area and population than Kashmir but less Assembly seats. Moreover, the reserved seats had to be rotated after every two to three terms. The Delimitation Commission was not being constituted as it would benefit Jammu region,’’ Harshdev said.
Ashwani Sharma and Mr Mankotia said the Congress in its 2008 election manifesto had also promised constitution of the Delimitation Commission. However, they regretted, the Congress MLAs were now opposing the Commission.
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