Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 23: The Members of the opposition National Conference and Congress today staged a walk-out from the Upper House after holding protest dharna in the ‘Well’ of the House over the issue of rehabilitation of people affected from the power projects in Kishtwar and Doda belt while ruling BJP members held protest against Pakistani firing on civilians.
The opposition members, led by NC legislator from Kishtwar, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo and Congress Member Naresh Gupta, raked up the issue of construction of seven power projects in Kishtwar belt and failure of the Government to rehabilitate the people affected by such projects. They were demanding constitution of House Committee which should go to the area and take stock of situation and submit its report to the Government.
As the House today commenced its normal business in the morning, the opposition members stood up from their seats and started protesting and demanding setting up of House Committee on the power projects issue and rehabilitation of people being displaced from there. They said that they were not satisfied with the reply of the Dy Chief Minister and Chairman should announce constitution of House Committee.
The BJP members led by Ramesh Arora also stood up and started raising slogans against Pakistan. Arora demanded that a House Committee should be sent to the border area to take review of situation and meet the civilians and take stock of the miseries they are facing.
Vikram Randhawa, Charanjit Singh, Surinder Mohan Ambardar, Vibodh Gupta and others also expressed their concern over the border situation and asked the Government to construct bunkers and provide all the facilities to the people displaced from border area. PDP member Surinder Chaodhary and NC member Shehnaz Ganai also lodged their protest over Pakistan firing.
After protesting for some time at their seats, Kitchloo and other members walked into the Well of the House, raising anti-government slogans as the Chairman of Legislative Council Haji Anayat Ali rejected their demand. He said yesterday during discussion on the issue, they did not press for it and now there is no question of raising this issue again. The Government has given its reply. The Government has given response about rehabilitation policy also. He went ahead with the Question Hour but nothing was clearly audible amidst loud slogans.
Amid massive slogans, the Congress and NC members then started protest dharna in the ‘Well’ of the House. Their dharna and slogans continued for long, disrupting smooth business in the House.
Minister for Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs Abdul Rehman Veeri asked them to raise the issue once the question hour is completed but they ignored his plea. Even Leader of the House, Naeem Akhtar intervened but they remained firm on their demand.
The Chairman told the protesters that they couldn’t behave in such a manner as a half an hour discussion was held in the House on the issue on Monday and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Kumar Singh, who is also the Minister for Power, had already replied. Then angry over the statement, the opposition members staged a walkout from the House at around 11.52 am.
It may be recalled that DyCM had told the House that there were four power projects operational on Chenab and seven more projects were taken up in Kishtwar and Doda belt. He told that four power projects with 1680 MW cumulative capacity were operational on Chenab, while as seven more projects with total capacity of 5388 MW have been proposed to be constructed on the river flowing through Chenab belt comprising Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban districts.
He said a comprehensive Relief and Rehabilitation (RR) policy has been formulated for the affected people of three Power projects of Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kawar in Kishtwar districts.
Meanwhile, the BJP members after brief protest against Pakistani firing and raising slogans against Pakistani turned calm. Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs Minister however, later said that Government was monitoring border situation. Senior Ministers also paid visit to border camps and efforts are afoot to provide all possible help to the people who have migrated from border villages and were camping in schools or other Government buildings. He appealed both the countries for restoring peace on borders.
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