*Watch Mehbooba-Omar spar live video on Excelsior Youtube channel
Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 6: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, and opposition National Conference leader Omar Abdullah today sparred in Assembly as the House witnessed noisy scenes over the issue of setting up of Sainik Colony in Kashmir.
Agitated by the media reports about construction of Sainik Colony at Old Air Field, the Chief Minister said there was no truth in the story as the photograph published in the newspaper was that of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry (JAKLI) quarters being constructed for married serving personnel of the unit. “I do not know what these newspapers want? Do they want to put the State on fire? They should have investigated before publishing the story”, she said.
“Constructions have been going on for decades in the areas which have been allotted to the Army and other security forces for their staff and the families and by playing up the pictures of some residential accommodation in the newspapers, which already exist in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir, an attempt is being made to provoke the situation and create trouble, which won’t be allowed,” Mehbooba said.
“The opposition members bring in these newspapers which I will not name as they want to get publicity. If anyone tries to disrupt peace, they will be dealt with sternly,” she said.
Mehbooba warned certain sections of media that Government will take stern action against them if they try to put the State on fire. “We are with the media persons and we announced welfare scheme for them and we will do more. If they want to put the State on fire, they will be dealt with strongly. This is not done. You want to destroy tourism”, she said.
“It is highly unfortunate that at a time when the tourism activity has started picking up in Kashmir and the slumped economy is slowly rejuvenating, a sustained campaign has been launched by certain quarters to dish out concocted and inflammatory reports to provoke the situation,” Mehbooba said.
The Chief Minister also urged the media to play a responsible and responsive role by verifying the veracity of the reports before publishing the same. “Please investigate whatever comes to you especially on such sensitive issues before putting the same in the public domain,” she urged the media and said if there is even an iota of truth in any such move, go ahead and publish it, “but for God sake, please don’t give credence to hearsay.”
Mehbooba said the Government will not allow anybody to put Kashmir on fire and bring miseries to the people. “I am not here for luxuries, I am here to work and bring relief to the people, who have suffered immensely because of turmoil, mis-governance, corruption and nepotism,” she said. “I will not permit anybody to play with the lives of the people and disrupt peace and would continue to work for the welfare of the people for as long as I am here”, she added.
Pointing out that the former Chief Minister had led this misinformation campaign by spreading canards on twitter about purported settling of non-state subjects in the Sainik Colonies, she said as the former CM and head of the opposition, he knows that there is no truth in the establishment of Sainik Colonies as is being projected. “He (the former CM) had himself attended four meetings of the Rajya Sainik Board in which the decisions to locate land for Sainik Colonies for state subject retired soldiers were reiterated. Now, there is tweet, tweet, tweet,” she said.
“However, when the matter came up during our Government, it was communicated to the concerned quarters that there is no land available for the purpose,” Mehbooba said.
She said the first Sainik Colonies were established in the State by the then Chief Minister, late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in Jammu and the Army had no role in their construction. She urged the opposition to play a constructive role in the interest of peace and stability instead of trying to trigger trouble in the State by politicizing non-existent issues.
The opposition benches protested against the Chief Minister’s outburst saying everything was not media created. “Yesterday two police men were killed in Anantnag. Was it media created”, shouted Congress leader, Rigzin Jora.
Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stood up and reacted sharply to Mehbooba’s outburst against him and his tweets. “My small tweets prick you. Your mood gets spoiled. If I make you accountable by tweeting, I will continue it. I won’t stop and I won’t apologise for it,” Omar said.
Responding to Mehbooba’s charge, Omar said he has never denied being part of the meetings for setting up of Sainik Colony but had never passed any order like the one he had posted on twitter earlier last month. “If there is any such order issued during my tenure, please bring it forth. If you are here for welfare of the people, I am also here so that people are benefited,” he said.
“I think when the Chief Minister is talking about setting the State on fire, she is confusing herself with me. My tenure is witness…. If we follow your footsteps, the State will be on fire,” Omar said. The NC leader said he will continue to raise such issues and continue to tweet.
The issue of proposed colony for armed forces personnel was raised by Independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rasheed. Waving a copy of the newspaper, the legislator stormed into the well of the House, seeking a statement from the Government on the issue. “Last time the Chief Minister said there was no Sainik Colony being set up in the Valley and now we have this report. What is the truth?”, he asked.
Joined by National Conference and Congress legislators, the opposition legislators created ruckus in the Assembly over media reports about setting up of a Sainik colony in Srinagar.
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