Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 8: The Legislative Assembly today admitted two Private Members’ Bills for consideration pertaining to implementation of prohibition in Jammu and Kashmir after protests by the Opposition members including National Conference and Congress when one of the bills moved by NC MLA from Ganderbal Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar was rejected.
As Jabbar’s bill was rejected after being put to vote, there were massive protests in the Legislative Assembly with couple of MLAs trooping into Well of the House and others protesting from their seats saying the bill should have been admitted for consideration and not opposed by the PDP, which too had brought a similar bill when it was in the Opposition.
As strong protests continued, the treasury benches after discussions allowed similar bill on prohibition moved by Congress MLA from Inderwal and former Minister Ghulam Mohammad Saroori for consideration. The NC MLAs insisted that both the bills including the one moved by Ishfaq Jabbar should be admitted.
Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan then said the Government was allowing both the bills to be admitted for consideration.
The bills proposed prohibition on advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, manufacture, import, export and distribution of liquor in the entire State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, the bill on prohibition moved by Ishfaq Jabbar was opposed by Minister of State for Finance Ajay Nanda on the ground that Jammu and Kashmir is a tourist State and it can’t afford prohibition. He cited that experiment of prohibition had failed in Haryana and Andhra Pradesh, prompting both the Governments to revoke it.
But the Opposition members countered the Government view saying the experiment of prohibition has proved successful in BJP-ruled States like Gujarat and Bihar and wanted to know why it can’t be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Assembly today also passed a Private Member’s Bill moved by People’s Conference MLA from Kupwara, Bashir Ahmad Dar pertaining to increase in the pension of members of the Legislature.
After thorough discussions, the bill along with the amendment was passed by the House with voice vote.
The bill proposed hike in pension of ex-legislators on the basis of their term in the office.
However, the Legislative Assembly today returned two Private Members’ Bills, “The Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (L.A. Private Members’ Bill No.12 of 2016)” and a Bill to provide free medical treatment to the people of BPL in the State (L.A Private Members’ Bill No.14 of 2016).
The bills were moved by BJP MLA from Ramnagar RS Pathania and National Conference MLA from Mendhar Javed Ahmad Rana in the House.
The House rejected the Bills with the voice vote after thorough discussion.
Meanwhile, MLA Mendhar, Javed Rana withdrew another bill L.A Private Members’ Bill No.15 of 2016 “to provide free electricity to the people of BPL category and the people residing in border areas after a satisfactory reply by the Government.
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