Speaker seeks report after NPP MLA lodges protest

Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 27: Assembly Speaker Mubarak Gul today called for a report how inauguration stone of a project in Udhampur was replaced.
The issue was raised during Question Hour by National Panthers Party (NPP) member Balwant Singh Mankotia who alleged that Planning Minister Ajay Sadhotra removed his name plate and replaced it with his own (Sadhotra) name.    He alleged that the project was completed by him in his constituency and was scheduled to inaugurate.
“There was my name plate,” he said, adding but surprisingly it was removed on the directions of the minister under the cover of darkness, hours before its scheduled inauguration by him.
The NPP panthers also raised slogans against the minister.    Leader of the Opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abdul Rehman Veeri said this was a very important issue and needs proper investigation.
He demanded that action should be taken against the minister who replaced the name of the MLA.    He said local MLAs were not being invited during inauguration or laying of foundation stones of projects by ministers in the state.
Mr Veeri alleged that during the inauguration of District College, Hospital and other projects in his Anantnag constituency, he was not invited by the Government.    It is not the MLA but this institution which was humiliated and demanded protection from the chair.
However, he was challenged by Higher Education Minister Mohammad Akbar Lone who said a formal invitation was sent to Mr Veeri before the inauguration of degree college.
‘I will resign if it is proved that no invitation was sent to you’, Mr Lone said and asked Mr Veeri to resign if he(Veeri) was proved wrong.
“I have evidence that invitation was sent to Mr Veeri,” Mr Lone said.    However, when NPP members again started shouting slogans against the Minister, Mr Gul said he has called for a report on this issue.
“I have directed the officials to give details about the entire matter,” he said and directed the Government to invite local MLAs for every function.    He said ignoring local MLAs was against the norms. Action will be taken against any minister who will not invite local MLAs, he warned.