Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 4: An All Party Opposition delegation today met Governor NN Vohra at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar and voiced concern over delay in holding Legislature session by the State Government, a result of which the legislators were unable to raise demands and problems faced by the people in their constituencies at the forum, which has been meant for this.
They said several issues have piled up before the Opposition including Article 35-A, which has been challenged in the Supreme Court and they (the issues) needed to be debated and addressed immediately in the Special Assembly session.
The Governor assured the delegation that he would early discuss the delegations’ demands with the Chief Minister.
However, there seems to be no immediate proposal with the Government to convene the Legislature session.
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Legislative Assembly Speaker Kavinder Gupta told the Excelsior that no request has come before him from the State Government to call the session. “I have to call the session after the Governor issues a notification on request of the Government,” he said.
Sources said the delegation of Opposition parties, which was led by National Conference president and Srinagar Lok Sabha member, Dr Farooq Abdullah and comprised leaders from various political parties including Congress, CPM, DPN, PDF etc, explained to the Governor that the PDP-BJP coalition Government had abruptly adjourned budget session of the Legislature in January without completing the listed business due to which many issues of the legislators remained pending.
“The Government then called a Special Session on GST in June, which was adjourned sine die within an hour after obituary reference. Later, the Government again called Special Session on GST in July, which lasted just three days and discussed only implementation of the GST,” they said, adding since the session on GST was special and didn’t take up any other business, the Government was legally and Constitutionally bound to summon the Legislature as it must meet once in six months.
The Opposition leaders cited that by delaying the convening of Legislature session, the Government was trying to hide its failure on many counts including debate on Article 35-A, which defines State Subject Law and whose existence has been challenged in the Apex Court by an NGO.
“A way out to defend Article 35-A with full force can be found through the Legislature, which is represented by major political parties and Independent MLAs,” the Opposition leaders told the Governor.
Charging the PDP-BJP coalition Government from shying away from the Legislature session to avoid debate on Article 35-A, the Opposition leaders, according to sources, said the Legislature session would also help all political parties to clear their stand (on 35-A) so that the people are aware of it. This, they said, was necessary as some political parties were speaking in different tones.
“The Opposition delegation impressed upon the Governor to call a session of State Assembly and Council. The delegation told Vohra that there was “chaos and confusion” at every level in State that need to be discussed in the Legislature,” sources said.
The delegation stressed that in the absence of grass root institutions of democracy like Panchayats and Municipalities, the Legislature is the only fora for debating serious challenges faced by the people.
Briefing the reporters about the meeting later, Dr Abdullah said they placed before him the need to have a session of the Assembly.
“The last special session was only to discuss the GST. The Government should call an Assembly session where the members can place the situation and problems of their constituencies and seek answers from the Government. We told him (the Governor) that there was so much `mis-governance’ that backdoor appointments are taking place, SPOs are being appointed in lieu of money from the poor and the situation is such which can become the basis of destruction of the country and the State,” the NC president said.
“That is why we all parties placed such apprehensions before him and we expect he will intervene and call a normal session, of a week or two, during which we will raise the issues of our constituencies,” Farooq said, adding that “we discussed everything with the Governor and are hopeful that our apprehensions will be raised during the Assembly session and the Government will have to answer”.
Earlier, a meeting of opposition was held at the residence of Farooq Abdullah in which issues related to politics, administration and security were discussed threadbare.
CPI (M) leader M Y Tarigami, who was part of the delegation, said calling an Assembly session is the need of the hour to discuss various issues of governance and politics including the “threat” to Article 35A.
The issue of Article 35A is being debated everyday and instead of the streets, it should be discussed in the State Legislature, he said.
“There is ‘political uncertainty’ in the State. There is uncertainty among the people because of these issues,” Tarigami said.
So, he added, a session of the State Legislature should be conveyed and this forum, which has been weakened by the present Government, should discuss these issues.
Led by Dr Farooq Abdullah, the other opposition party leaders’ delegation, which called on Governor at Raj Bhavan included Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president Ghulam Ahmad Mir, CPI (M) State General Secretary Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami, People’s Democratic Front (PDF) chief Hakeem Yasin, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Abdul Rahim Rather, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Mohammad Shafi Uri, Mohammad Akbar Lone, Usman Majid and Mian Altaf.
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