Legislators spar during debate on Governor’s address

SRINAGAR: Legislators of the ruling and Opposition parties entered into a war of words as a discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address began in both Houses of the legislature on the third day of the Budget session here today.

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, May 27

Legislators of the ruling and Opposition parties entered into a war of words as a discussion on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address began in both Houses of the legislature on the third day of the Budget session here today.

The legislators sparred over several issues ranging from the Centre’s failure to initiate a meaningful dialogue with Pakistan to alleged cold-shouldering of Opposition MLAs during official functions.

National Conference legislator Aga Ruhullah hit out at the PDP for handing over J&K to the BJP and alleged that the affairs of the state were being run on the diktats of the RSS and the Shiv Sena.

Even as Ruhullah said India was better than Pakistan, he said the PDP had allied with the ‘Hindustani ISI and Taliban’, adding that in the present circumstances, it was better to go with Pakistan as the present situation was not conducive for the Muslims.

BJP MLA Ravinder Raina and Independent legislator from Langate Engineer Rashid entered into a war of words when Raina said J&K was an integral part of India to which Rashid said J&K was a disputed territory and neither the jugular vein of Pakistan nor an integral part of India.

NC legislator Mian Altaf said there had been backward movement vis-à-vis holding of a dialogue with Pakistan and the Centre had failed to take any result-oriented steps in this regard. Referring to Thursday’s joint shutdown call of the separatists, he said the wrong policies of the government had ‘united’ the separatists.

“Because of you, (JKLF chairman) Yasin Malik is meeting (Hurriyat leaders) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and (Syed Ali) Geelani,” Altaf said.

The NC leader said the PDP-BJP coalition government was creating confusion over the return of Kashmiri Pandits, resulting in a communal divide. “They are only creating noise over their return but no serious measures are being taken on the ground,” he added.

Congress MLA Abdul Rashid Dar hit out at Education Minister Naeem Akhter for issuing confusing statements on the return of Pandits and other contentious issues. He advised the government that Akhter should either remain a minister or government spokesman.

Several Opposition MLAs alleged that they were being ignored during official functions. NC MLA Akbar Lone said the Health Ministry had inaugurated a hospital in his Sonawari constituency and taken credit even as it had been constructed during the NC-Congress regime.

Legislators Usman Majeed and Pawan Gupta also created a ruckus, saying that the Opposition MLAs had been turned into showpieces and were being ignored.

Later, Deputy Speaker Nazir Gurezi assured the legislators of strict action against ministers in case they ignored the Opposition MLAs.

The discussion on the motion of thanks was moved by PDP member Javed Hassan Baig and seconded by Sat Paul Sharma of the BJP in the Legislative Assembly, while in the Legislative Council, it was moved by the Leader of the House, Naeem Akhter. The discussion is scheduled to conclude tomorrow with the Chief Minister’s address.