All names given by BJP for three major Panels adjusted
*Speaker says he has powers to nominate members to other bodies
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 17: Controversy shrouding the constitution of Assembly Committees has taken a new turn with Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather maintaining that elections to three Finance Committees were not held as all political parties including the Opposition BJP had favoured for constitution of the Panels with consensus and that all the names given by the BJP were incorporated.
Of three Finance Committees, the chairmanship of the PAC, the most significant and important Panel has been given to the BJP, Rather told the Excelsior.
Row erupted soon after the Committees were set up with Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma alleging that the Speaker was trying to turn the Assembly into Nawa-u-Subah office (the National Conference headquarters) by giving chairmanship of majority of Panels to the NC or its allies.
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Asserting that there is a provision for election to three Finance Committees, the Assembly Speaker said a notification was issued for the elections during budget session of the Legislature mentioning dates of nominations, elections etc. However, he said, the political parties having representation in the Assembly unanimously decided to evolve consensus on constitution of the Committee and not to go for the elections.
“Accordingly, the BJP gave names for the three Finance Committees and almost all of them were adjusted,” he said.
LoP Sunil Sharma was, however, not in Jammu when the names were given as he was busy with Assembly election in Assam where he had been appointed as co-Incharge of the party.
Surjit Singh Slathia, BJP Deputy Leader in the Assembly, who submitted the names, told the Excelsior that he was given format and asked to mention three names for each Finance Committee.
“I submitted the names to the Speaker after discussions with the party leadership. And, almost all of them were adjusted,” Slathia said.
Rather said as far as rest of the Committees are concerned, the Speaker is empowered to nominate the Chairpersons and the members but still he took care of all political parties which is evident from composition of the Panels.
“The BJP gave names of its senior members for the three Finance Committees. The members of the Finance Committees can’t be members of other Panels and when they can’t be members they can’t be the chairpersons. There has to be a stuff to occupy post of the Chairperson as all senior concerned officers have to report to them and there is very important business before these Panels. The chairperson should be in a position to conduct proceedings,” Rather said.
He said since all senior BJP members were nominated as Members of the Finance Committees they couldn’t become Members of rest of the Panels and were unable to head the Committees. He also maintained that the Speaker has the exclusive powers to nominate members and Chairpersons to the Committees other then the three Finance Committees.
Rather maintained that he has never been biased in proceedings of the House or in exercising his powers to nominate Chairpersons and Members to the House Committee and that his conduct has always been appreciated by the political parties in the Assembly.
Moreover, he said, the chairpersons of the Finance Committees were also elected by consensus last year.
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