Alleges discrimination with Jammu region
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 3: BJP MLAs and former Ministers Rajiv Jasrotia and Pawan Gupta today staged a walkout in the Legislative Assembly during Question Hour over allocation of funds for flood relief works, alleging discrimination against the Jammu region. BJP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia also voiced concern over the issue but later returned to his seat and didn’t join the walkout.
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Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary denied the charges levelled by the BJP MLAs and also exchanged heated words with them leading to an uproar in the House.
“On one hand, the Government has been saying that the Centre hasn’t given any funds and on the other they are admitting allocation of Rs 1431 crore,” Jasrotia, whose represents Jasrota Assembly constituency in Kathua district, said.
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Pawan Gupta, the BJP MLA from Udhampur West, also joined the issue saying the Government was discriminating with the Jammu region as floods have caused more damage in parts of the region where more funds should be released for restoration works. The BJP MLAs and the Deputy Chief Minister had heated exchanges on the issue.
Asserting that Udhampur was worst hit by floods, Gupta allged that not a single penny was given to the district while Rs 62 cr wer given to Kashmir.
Gupta, Jasrotia and Mankotia, MLA Chenani, came out of their seats and started shouting near podium of the House seeking adequate funds for flood-hit people of the region and restoration of damaged infrastructure.
Gupta said he walked out in support of his party colleague as “we are not satisfied with the Government response”.
“He (Deputy CM) is clearly a person who discriminates against Jammu and has a consistent habit of ignoring the people of Jammu. My Udhampur constituency was the worst hit by floods but got nothing. The discrimination will not be tolerated,” he added.
Jasrotia said he raised a question in the House but the Government instead of giving a direct answer tried to “mislead” the House.
“I am asking one thing, the Minister is replying to something entirely different. This has always been the technique of this Government – to deviate and start an entirely different debate,” the MLA Jasrota said.
Jasrotia said the floods and landslides in August-September last year caused major damage in Jammu, including loss of life, but the funds that came for flood relief were given only to Kashmir and not to Jammu.
“Funds should have been released to worst hit Jammu but instead, the Government gave Rs 62 crore to Kashmir. This is clear discrimination,” he said.
Responding to the question of Jasrotia about details of funds released by the Centre for flood restoration works and district-wise distribution and utilisation, Choudhary said no funds till date have been released by the Centre for flood restoration works during the current financial year 2025-26.
“Further, an amount of Rs 289.39 crore was released during the current financial year 2025-26, under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). Besides, an amount of Rs 100 crore (Rs 5.00 crore for each district) has been released under the UT Capex Budget (2025-26) of DMRRR under the activity ‘Flood Relief Measures’ to undertake urgent flood restoration works,” he said.
He said the Jal Shakti Department has received funds for ongoing flood management projects under Flood Management and Border Area Programme (FMBAP) during the current financial year.
“The released funds are mainly for Flood Management Work, amounting to Rs 164.35 lakhs and for Comprehensive Flood Management of River Jhelum, Phase-II amounting to Rs 6041.25 lakhs,” he said
Besides this, based on the report of inter-ministerial central team (IMCT), the GoI under SASCI (Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment) has allocated Rs 1431 cr for J-K. This will be further released to implementing departments once the detailed proposals for flood restoration works are received from the departments,” Choudhary said.
Not satisfied with the response, Jasrotia and his party MLAs said the Union Home Ministry had already given Rs 212 crore to J-K as immediate relief and accused the Deputy Chief Minister of misleading the House. He said the Government has admitted that under Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI), the Government of India has allocated Rs 1431 cr to J&K.
Choudhary shot back at the BJP legislators and asked them to stop misleading people of Jammu on the pretext of discrimination with the region.
“We love Central Government as you do…But we say, whether the flood comes to Kashmir or Jammu, whether the damage is in Jammu or Kashmir, they are equally painful for us, but this is not the case with the BJP because their conscious is not clear. We have pain for both regions which is evident when our Government restored Darbar move to provide relief to the local traders. This shows we do not discriminate,” he said. Continuing his tirade against the BJP, Choudhary said they are now demanding National Law University for Jammu after ensuring closure of Mata Vaishno Devi Medical College.
“They distributed sweets after putting the future of our children in danger. What answer do they have as to why the medical college was closed?” he asked.
He said when the Government receives the money from the Centre, it will be distributed equally.
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