Gopal Sharma
Excelsior/Rakesh
JAMMU, Feb 11: An uproar in the Upper House of the J&K Legislature, disrupted business for about half an hour twice as the Opposition PDP members and single member from NPP, strongly lodged their protest in the well of the House against the biased attitude of the Government while creating new administrative units and neglect of many areas.
The members moved to the well held protest and raised slogans against Government while NPP member sat on dharna on the floor of the `well’ just in front of the Chairman, Legislative Council, raising loud slogans. Amidst noisy scenes and sloganeering, nothing was clearly audible in the House. The repeated efforts of the Chairman, failed to bring order in the House.
The trouble started when the House commenced its routine business with the `Question Hour’. As the first member Abdul Majeed Bhat stood to raise his question, all the PDP members including Mohd Ashraf Mir, Asgar Ali, Nayeem Akhtar and Yash Paul Sharma and lone JKNPP member Sayed Rafiq Shah stood up and raised the issue of newly created administrative units. They alleged that no criteria was adopted and many areas were not provided justice. Senior PDP member Nayeem Akhtar said in many areas people have gone on hunger strike. The people are on roads protesting against the injustice meted out to them. The Government has remained mute spectator and their voice is not being heard. The people sitting on hunger strike, are being allowed to die.
Ashraf Mir and Rafiq Shah alleged that regional imbalance has been created as in Kashmir 54 and in Jammu 74 new units were given. They demanded that justice be done with the Kashmir region. Recommendations of Mushtaq Ganai Committee were set aside and not considered. They pressed for adjournment of House and bringing discussion on the issue. The Chairman insisted to continue with the Questions and asked the members to take their seats but raising protests they moved to the well of the house and started protest. Yash Paul Sharma remained standing at his seat and appeared reluctant to move to the Well. However, he joined other protesting members of his party at around 11.11 am. Ashraf Mir started thumping the table of the reporting staff accompanying Council secretary. They launched combined protest. In the din nothing was audible. Some members including Devinder Rana and Majeed Bhat passed some remarks on the protesting members but could not be audible amidst noise.
The Chairman warned the members to take their seats otherwise they will be marshaled out. Rafiq Shah today clad in traditional Khan dress with `Kulla’ ( headgear), sat on dharna on the floor of the House and started raising slogans. Then with the directions of the `chair’, he was lifted and marshaled out at around 11.18 am. The Chairman, again asked the PDP members go by the rules and provide him the list of the areas where injustice has been done so that he could forward to the Government with his note. He also assured to bring discussion on the subject if they move the motion. Ashraf Mir then provided the list to the Chairman and the proceedings were resumed at around 11.20 am as the PDP members took their seats. The Chairman forwarded the list to the Government through Secretary LC.
After some time, Ashraf Mir again stood up as the leader of the House, Ajay Sadhotra-Minisuer Inchare Planning, arrived in the house. He claimed that since leader of the House was present in the House, there was no need to go for long examination of the list. He demanded that Minister should give assurance in the House and if not Chairman should do the same. He pressed for assurance and all the PDP members against stood up and sought assurance. As the chairman refused to listen and oblige, the members continued protest and shouting slogans against Government and raising some serious allegations, staged walk out.
But after some time again, the PDP members moved inside when the Question Hour was over and lodged protest against the latest tweets of the Chief Minister regarding protest of opposition during Governor address, alleging that it as non-seriousness on the part of Omar Abdullah. He has tried to erode the sanctity of the house by airing some objectionable comments. They again disrupted the proceedings and demanded discussion on the issue. The chairman disallowed and then they again started slogans against the Government. Amidst protests, they again walked out.
Follow our WhatsApp channel