Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 26: The National Conference and Congress Members today lodged strong protest in the ‘Well’ of the Upper House and staged walk out over the reply of the Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu, alleging that he did not mention anything about the Panchayats in the Budget speech in the House and even raising remuneration of Panchayat members.
The normal business in the Legislative Council was disrupted for about 10 minutes and the members from both the sides exchanged heated arguments at high pitch. They were raising allegations and counter allegations against each other’s regime. While those from BJP and PDP alleged that last six years witnessed loot and plunder of the public exchequer, the NC and Congress alleged that Mufti Government was not serious in strengthening Panchayats and allowing democratic institutions strengthened at the grass root level.
As the Legislative Council today commenced its normal business with the Question Hour, the members elected to the House on Panchayats quota led by Ghulam Nabi Monga from Congress stood up and addressing the chair alleged that in yesterday’s speech of the Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu, he did not mention anything about the Panchayats. Dr Shehnaz Ganai, Ali Mohd Dar from NC and Sham Lal Bhagat from Congress also stood up and alleged that Panchayats were not given any importance either in the Governor’s address or the Finance Minister’s reply on the debate on Budget.
The other members from the opposition including Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo, Qaiser Jamshed Lone, Ajay Sadhotra from NC, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Ravinder Sharma, Naresh Gupta from Congress, Master Noor Hussain and Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri (NC) also joined them in the protest and lodged their protest with the Chairman of the Council Amrit Malhotra, demanding reply from the Finance Minister.
Jugal Kishore said that Dr Drabu, mentioned name of Mr Kichloo Sahib only and replied his queries and did not respond to the queries raised by other members. It appears that during debate on the budget in this House, the Finance Minister was not properly informed by the Minister or other people attending this House on his behalf. They have not taken the proceedings of this House seriously.
BJP member Vibodh Gupta and Sofi Yousuf and Surinder Choudhary stood up and said where were they when Dr Drabu delivered his speech yesterday in the House. Why did they remain silent. They should have lodged protest yesterday when Finance Minister’s speech concluded. Now, they are enacting drama just to make news headlines. Upon this, the opposition members also triggered guns on the Coalition Government and the spree of trading charges continued for some time.
Chairman Legislative Council, Amrit Malhotra repeatedly tried to restore order in the House but he failed in his attempts. Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Sayed Basharat Bukhari then stood up and tried to convince the agitating members that during the discussion on Rural Development Department, the concerned Minister will give detailed reply and also address the queries of the members within next 2-3 days. But the members pressed that Finance Minister should come to the House and respond to their queries.
Then Minister in-charge Revenue Javed Mustafa who was also in the Upper House during Dr Drabu’s speech on Tuesday, stood up and yelled at high pitch on the protesting members asking where were they when the Finance Minister was speaking on Budget in this House? Why these members were sitting silent? They should have raised their issues that time. Why this drama is being created in the House for the sake of publicity?
The arguments of PDP Minister further irked the agitating members. They also started shouting at the Minister at the high pitch and the verbal clash of the members with the Minister continued for some time. Some BJP and PDP members also stood up and traded charges but nothing was clearly audible in the din. The members including Mr Monga, Sham Lal Bhagat, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, Kichloo, Ali Mohd Dar and Qaiser Jamshed then came into the Well of the House protesting and staged walk out of the House. Some of the NC members including G Q Pardesi and Ajay Sadhotra stayed back in the House. The proceedings remained disrupted for about 10 minutes in the House.
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