Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 11: Opposition National Conference created uproar in Assembly today over alleged “unfair distribution” of street lights in Srinagar constituencies.
National Conference MLA from Eidgah constituency, Mubarak Gul, raised the issue of street lights, alleging they have been distributed in unfair manner by Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC).
“Every constituency has got 50 street lights but one Minister’s constituency (referring to MoS Asiea Naqash who represents Hazaratbal) has been given 100. This is unfair. And then the lights in my constituency have been distributed through the candidate whom I defeated in the elections,” Gul alleged. He was supported by other members from NC and even Congress who accused the Government of unfair distribution, triggering uproar in the House.
Ali Mohammad Sagar, who represents Khanyar constituency of the City, alleged that he was provided only 25 street lights while rest were given to his rival and ruling PDP legislator from Upper House, Khursheed Aalam. The opposition members created ruckus and shouted slogans like “Bandar bhaant bandh karo” and “loot mar bandh karo”.
Amid uproar, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh tried to pacify the Opposition members by saying that no individual has been given the lights to distribute. He also provided a list of street lights in each constituency of Srinagar. However, the protesting Opposition members did not relent and they continued shouting slogans against the Government, alleging partiality and charging it with minimizing role of MLAs.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the Opposition is creating issue over a “non-issue”. “If any MLA has not been given any light, we will investigate the reasons for that,” he said. He said the allegations leveled by the opposition members were serious and they should furnish proof.
“These are serious allegations. If they have any specific case, let them furnish proof to us and we will inquire. If any direction has gone from some Minister, this is a serious allegation and we will inquire into it as well,” he said. After the statement of Singh, Speaker, Kavinder Gupta said MLAs should be taken into confidence by the administration in such issues.
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