Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Allotment of 1000 Fair Price Shops (FPS), which the Opposition said, was done on the basis of “favouritism and nepotism” today trigged unprecedented pandemonium in the Legislative Assembly, which disrupted proceedings of the House for nearly half an hour prompting the Government to state that if there was any “specific problem” in the allotments, it would be examined and that MLAs would be taken on board in allotment of remaining outlets.
During the ruckus, there were heated exchanges between National Conference member, Mian Altaf and PDP MLA Javed Beig when the latter stated that there were also “many skeletons in the cupboard” of NC when they were in powers and listed number of them.
While all Opposition members from National Conference, Congress and others were already on their feet during Zero Hour when NC MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani ‘Kalloo’ took up the issue of allotment of Fair Price Shops on “pick and choose” and “selective basis”, the issue further flared up when Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Choudhary Zulfkar Ali claimed that Tanvir Sadiq, the Constituency Representative, of Leader of Opposition and NC MLA, had also given a list for allotment of shops.
Omar, who was present in the House, immediately reacted, saying the Minister should adopt transparency in the allotments and there was no need to favour any one. “We don’t want any favours. You should cancel the already allotted shops and sanction new completely in transparent manners,” he told the Minister.
All National Conference and Congress MLAs trooped near Well of the House shouting `banderbaant bandh karo’.
Earlier, Omar, who said this was not only his issue or the issue of his Beerwah constituency, argued that the members are concerned as they were caught unaware about the allotment of the ration depots and also because the Minister tried to justify the first come first serve policy.
Also, though he admitted that it is for the Government’s to decide whether it wants to take on board the concerned MLAs in the allotment of the new ration depots or not, he said ensuring that the fair price shops given in a transparent manner is must.
NC MLA from Nagrota Devender Singh Rana urged Speaker Kavinder Gupta to use his powers and announce cancellation or give direction to the Minister to cancel 1000 Fair Price Shops. Rana displayed an order issued by Social Welfare Minister Sajjad Ghani Lone, which called for taking MLAs on board in implementation of the scheme. He said all Ministers should follow the guidelines issued by Sajjad Lone.
Zulfkar repeatedly intervened. He said as the concern has been expressed in the House, the MLAs’ would be taken on board in allotment of shops and that a Circular would be issued today itself. He said the institution of MLAs is very important and he too had been an MLA for six years. He assured that a Circular on the analogy of Sajjad Lone would be issued today itself but this didn’t satisfy the members, who insisted on cancellation of already allotted Fair Price Shops.
However, Zulfkar denied any malpractice in the allotment of new ration depots on first come first served basis policy.
“I am ready for a debate,” Zulfkar said, adding the previous list was prepared as per the norms and assured the House that the list will be examined and a Circular in this regard will be issued that the MLAs be taken on board while preparing list of Fair Price Shops.
NC MLA Mian Altaf, however, favour adoption of complete transparent system in allotment of Fair rice Shops saying they should be allotted by issuing notification in the newspapers and not merely on recommendations of the MLAs.
PDP MLA Javed Beig intervened in the ruckus saying when a discussion is held all issues would crop up.
“We will tell what you have done during last 20 years,” Beig said pointing towards the National Conference members and listed number of recruitments and other issues in which, he said, there was no transparency and irregularities were committed.
NC MLA and former Minister Mian Altaf immediately reacted saying Muzaffar Hussain Beig (uncle of Javed Beig) had also said same thing in 2002. Altaf said the NC members haven’t committed any wrong.
Javed Beig was on his feet and wanted Altaf not to name Muzaffar Hussain Baig. This led to heated exchanges between the two. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Abdul Rehman Veeri tried to calm Javed and Opposition members to restore calm in the House.
Veeri intervened saying it was simple issue and the Minister concerned has assured that MLAs will be consulted. “This is such an assurance, which can’t be given in writing,” he said, adding only 1000 shops have been allotted so far and MLAs would be taken on board in allotment of remaining 3000.
Later Veeri told agitated members that if there was any specific problem in allotment of shops, they will be examined. “There was no problem,” he said.
On the assurance of Veeri, the House resumed its normal business after more than half an hour long disruptions.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, NC MLA from Nagrota Devender Singh Rana said “we raised the issue as we want complete transparency in the allotments and that there should be no pick and choose,” he said, adding that all 1000 allotted shops should be cancelled and next 3000 sanctions by adopting transparent policy by putting them in public domain through proper procedure.
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