J&K Assembly Opens To Statehood Chorus, Opposition Uproar

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- The seven-day autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly began on Monday on a stormy note, with BJP legislators protesting over the power tariff hike, the regularisation of daily-wagers and issues concerning National Health Mission employees, while members of the ruling alliance pressed for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

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The proceedings began with obituary references to former legislators Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, Dharam Paul and Ghulam Hassan Khan, who passed away between the previous session and the current one. The House observed a two-minute silence in their memory.

Sheikh Mustafa Kamal, a National Conference leader, had served as an MLA for three terms, while Congress leader Dharam Paul had served four terms and PDP leader Ghulam Hassan Khan one term.

As soon as the obituary references concluded, BJP legislators led by Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma stood up and raised slogans demanding justice for daily-wagers and NHM employees. They also protested against the recent hike in power tariff.

The BJP legislators raised slogans including“Jo Sarkar Na De Sakhe Bijli Pani, Woh Sarkar Nakami”,“Insaf Karo, Daily-wagers Ke Sath” and“Insaf Karo, NHM Employees Ke Sath”.

They later raised“Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and“Vande Mataram” slogans. Congress legislators Irfan Hafiz Lone and Iftikhar Ahmad attempted to counter them, while CPI(M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami urged BJP members to also raise the issue of restoration of statehood.

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“Another slogan should be raised here that despite two years of an elected government having taken over, statehood has not been restored,” Tarigami told the BJP lawmakers.

National Conference MLAs also stood up and raised slogans demanding restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

BJP legislators subsequently entered the Well of the House and continued anti-government sloganeering. Congress MLAs Irfan Hafiz Lone and Iftikhar Ahmad, along with Shopian MLA Shabir Kulley and Langate MLA Sheikh Khursheed, attempted to enter the Well but were prevented by marshals.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather repeatedly asked the protesting BJP members to return to their seats and warned that action would be taken against them.

“Go to your seats,” Rather said as the BJP legislators continued their protest.

The Speaker also directed that the BJP demonstration not be recorded and proceeded with the legislative business. Despite the disruption, ministers continued responding to questions raised by lawmakers.

Amid the commotion, NC MLA Nazir Gurezi accused the BJP of wasting the House's time and said the party should protest in Delhi rather than in the Assembly.

Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary alleged that the BJP did not want the government to resolve issues confronting the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

The BJP, however, said it was raising issues concerning various sections of society, including NHM employees, ASHA workers, anganwadi workers, CAMPA workers, GRS and technical assistants.

Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma said the BJP was performing its role as an effective opposition by seeking answers from the government on these issues.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the autumn session provided an opportunity for meaningful debate, constructive deliberations and discussion on issues concerning the welfare and aspirations of the people.

Recruitment Record Draws Opposition Attack

People's Conference president and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone attacked the National Conference government over its recruitment record, claiming that only 899 new jobs had been created in nearly two years against the NC's election promise of one lakh jobs.

Lone described the NC election manifesto as a“litany of lies” and said that at the current pace, it would take 222.46 years to create one lakh jobs.

He also referred to the manifesto promise of filling all vacancies in government departments within 180 days, saying only 7,580 vacancies had been filled in the past two years, while 40,672 posts remained vacant.

Lone also alleged that the government had failed to fulfil its promise of waiving application fees for government jobs and said the government had collected crores in application fees.

Reservation, Unemployment Issues Raised

PDP leader and MLA Waheed Para moved an adjournment motion seeking discussion on the rationalisation of reservations in Jammu and Kashmir.

Para said unemployment remained a major concern for youth and cited a figure of nearly 32 per cent unemployment. He also raised the issue of merit, arguing that meritorious students faced difficulties in education and employment.

He alleged that opportunities were disproportionately distributed under the existing reservation policy and called for its reconsideration and rationalisation.

Statehood Becomes Major Political Flashpoint

The demand for restoration of statehood emerged as another major issue on the opening day.

CPI(M) leader Muhammad Yousuf Tarigami urged BJP members to raise the statehood issue, while NC and Congress members also raised slogans demanding restoration of Jammu and Kashmir's statehood.

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AICC general secretary and Dooru MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir later accused BJP legislators of disrupting proceedings to avoid a united front of political parties demanding restoration of statehood.

Mir said the entire House was prepared to question the Centre over the delay in restoring statehood and alleged that the BJP created a commotion to prevent that discussion.

He also said the Centre's failure to restore statehood was affecting the functioning of the elected government.

Mir questioned the BJP's criticism over casual labourers, saying the party had ruled Jammu and Kashmir for seven years.

He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had limited powers but had sought time to address the issue of casual labourers systematically.

The BJP, meanwhile, accused the Omar Abdullah government of evading questions on public issues.

Sunil Sharma said the BJP was raising the concerns of NHM employees, ASHA workers, anganwadi workers, CAMPA workers, GRS and technical assistants, among others.

He said that when the government failed to address public concerns, it was the opposition's responsibility to hold it accountable in the Assembly.

The proceedings continued amid slogans and protests, with the Speaker repeatedly appealing to members to return to their seats.

The House was eventually adjourned for the day amid the uproar.

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