Sethi clashes with Gurezi, Sagar on 370
*NC MLA says it’s insult to ‘Institution’
Gopal Sharma/ Bivek Mathur
JAMMU, Feb 7: The issue of jailed MLA of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from Doda, Mehraj Malik today echoed in the J&K Legislative Assembly when the National Conference MLA Hilal Akbar Lone, raised the issue and said that detention of a Member of this House over a petty issue is unfortunate and insult to this democratic Institution, while BJP and National Conference members had a tiff over the issue of Article 370 in the House here today.
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Inviting the attention of Speaker, Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather, National Conference MLA Hilal Ahmed Lone said, ” It is unfortunate that our colleague,…. a Member of this august House, Mehraj Ahmed Malik is detained and lodged in jail for the past several months over a petty issue, but no members from here or that (Oppn) side raised this issue. Mehraj had not picked up a gun, he was not involved in stonning or any serious offence. He had just altercation with the Deputy Commissioner Doda over some public issue. He was representing his people. He was lodged in the jail for just minor issue. Is this democracy?
“His detention is wrong and unfair. Mehraj has been sent to this House by the people to represent them and raise their issues. The people of his Constituency have been deprived of this right for no fault of their. I appeal to all the members of this House that we must raise voice for our colleague. He must be provided opportunity to represent his people who have elected him,” Hilal Lone asserted.
Pointing towards Speaker, Lone said, ” A resolution from this House should be flashed to the Union Government, seeking immediate release of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik so that he could raise the issues of the people from his Doda constituency.”
Lone turned immotional when he raised the issue of detention of many Kashmiri youth and innocent killings in Kashmir. He alleged that on such issues BJP Members turn silent. They never utter any word. They do not have any sympathy with the people/ youth of Kashmir. At the same time, he also raised the issue of power concession to poor, issuance of ration and new ration cards besides the issue of daily wagers and Anganwadi/ Asha workers. He asserted that National Conference will fight for the restoration of statehood with special status including restoration of article 370 , even if they had to wait for 80 years.
National Conference members and some BJP members had a tiff when BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi was taking part in discussion on Budget speech in the House today. He said, ” Ghost of 370 is `dead and buried ‘ for ever. The NC members should not rake up this issue as it has gone for ever.”
On these arguments, some of the NC members including Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, Salman Sagar and some others including DyCM, Surinder Choudhary stood up and raised counter attacks. There was tiff for some time over the issue and nothing was audible in the din. When the BJP member connected Article 370 with the militancy of Kashmir, it added fuel to the fire. The verbal duel again erupted leading to noisy scenes again erupted, leading to intervention by Speaker asking members to allow BJP member to finish his speech.
Sethi delivered a strong and wide-ranging address in the Assembly, declaring that Article 370 is “dead and buried” and will never return under any circumstances.
Terming the abrogation of Article 370 as a historic and irreversible decision, Sethi asserted that the political future of Jammu and Kashmir is firmly aligned with national integration and development.
“Article 370 is over. It will not come back under any circumstances. The day is not far away when a BJP Chief Minister will be sitting in this Assembly.”
The MLA said that the abrogation of Article 370 had weakened the ecosystem of terrorism, stating that the provision had long acted as a shield for terrorists and separatist forces. He noted a visible decline in incidents of stone pelting (patharbaazi), attributing the improvement in the law-and-order situation to firm policies of the Central Government. “The reduction in stone pelting incidents clearly shows that misguided youth are now moving away from violence and towards constructive paths,” he said.
Highlighting the approach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sethi remarked that the Prime Minister chose dialogue with the youth of Jammu and Kashmir rather than engaging with Pakistan.
“Modi did not hold dialogue with Pakistan; instead, he opened channels of dialogue with the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. This has brought confidence, opportunities, and a sense of belonging among the younger generation,” he said.
The MLA also underlined the historical context of Jammu and Kashmir’s accession to India. He said that India’s freedom fighters and national leadership safeguarded Jammu and Kashmir from falling into Pakistan’s hands.
“Some people still behave as if Jammu and Kashmir is their personal property or Jagir. They must remember that this land is an integral part of India, protected by sacrifices of freedom fighters and patriots,” he asserted.
“Dr BR Ambedkar had clearly expressed his principled stand on constitutional equality when he wrote to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1951, stating that he did not support the idea of a separate or special Constitution for any one region,” Yudhvir said while hitting out at ruling party for supporting two constitutions, two flags, two Prime Ministers.
Yudhvir asserted that a single nation cannot have multiple constitutions, flags, or heads of state.
He said Ambedkar firmly believed that one nation must be governed by one Constitution to ensure equality, unity, and justice for all citizens.
“Dr Ambedkar was of the view that granting a separate constitutional arrangement would weaken national integration and create permanent divisions within the country. When his views were not accepted and his concerns on constitutional and social issues were repeatedly ignored, he chose to resign from the Union Cabinet in 1951, demonstrating his integrity and commitment to democratic principles,” Sethi said adding that his stand reflected his lifelong belief that true democracy can survive only when all citizens are governed by the same laws, with equal rights and responsibilities.
MLA Reasi, Kuldeep Raj Dubey strongly raised the issue of Talwara migrants and said that they must be properly rehabilitated and provided relief and employment package like others in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. He raised the issues of daily wagers, ASHA workers and Anganwadi wortkers and soght enhancement of their wages.
Dubey also lauded Central Government for sanctioning huge funds for many road and other infra structure development projects. He said the Union Power Minister, M L Khattar sanctioned Sawalkote project and the work has been finally launched on it. With this the people of Ramban and Reasi will be benefitted, he added.
Independent MLA Mohd Akram Choudhary from Surankote praised the Omar Government for fulfilling poll promises. He said NC Government had made commitment of 200 units of free power, free LPG cylinders, enhancement of pension etc and all the issues are being fulfilled. He hoped that the issue of daily wagers will also be solved shortly. He advised the BJP members to stay away from the sensitive and communal issues. He also referrered to the issue of Pir Panjal and asked LoP Sunil Sharma not to play politics over such touchy issues.
NC legislator from Beerwah, Dr Shafi Ahmed Wani, said that for the first time a mechanism has been created by his Government to ensure the quality of horticulture produce in Kashmir Valley by frequently checking the quality of the pesticides and fungicides used to prevent the crop from damage.
He also sought clarity from the Union Government on import duty, warning that zero duty, as claimed by the United States of America, would severely affect Kashmir’s horticulturists.
However, he expressed confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that local orchardists would not be allowed to suffer.
Dr Wani further claimed that no major recruitment scam had surfaced during the present Government’s tenure, alleging that two major scams, including the Fire and Emergency Services scam, had occurred during the LG’s rule.
PDP legislator Fayaz Ahmad Mir from Kupwara took a dig at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his pre-poll statement of not contesting elections unless Article 370, Article 35A and statehood were restored.
He questioned the decision to contest elections despite none of these demands being met to date.
Mir said that while the PAGD was formed to jointly fight for restoration of pre-August 5, 2019 status, the focus had now shifted, urging all parties to renew the struggle.
He also criticised the NC for branding PDP leaders as Jamaat or militant sympathisers, termed the trend disturbing, and accused both the NC and BJP of failing to protect Kashmiri students studying outside the UT.
He further questioned the NC Government over its promise of providing one lakh jobs within three months.
Without naming anyone, BJP legislator Vikram Randhawa accused the NC Government of failing to retrieve about 16,212 kanals of encroached Jammu Development Authority land and questioned the reduction of the UT budget from Rs 1.40 lakh crore to Rs 1.27 lakh crore.
He also criticised the repeated references to Article 370 and 35A, saying these provisions were now history and real issues should be addressed.
NC legislator from Budhal, Javaid Iqbal Choudhary, hit out at the BJP for crediting the Union Government for welfare schemes, stating that the Centre was only sharing taxes collected from the region as mandated under Article 270 of the Constitution.
He called for strengthening domicile laws, alleging that outside labour was dominating the local job market, and suggested that legislators send resolutions to other states to prevent attacks on Kashmiri students.
NC MLA from Rajpora, Ghulam Mohiuddin Mir, blamed the PDP for forming a coalition with the BJP, which he said ultimately led to the abrogation of the region’s special status.
He also criticised former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed for appointing Dr Haseeb Drabu as Finance Minister, alleging that the implementation of GST ended the region’s financial autonomy.
Mir also credited his Government for restoring the practice of Durbar Move discontinued in the LG’s rule that according to him is the reason behind the bustle in the Jammu markets.
He also commended his Government for initiating the process to deliver on its poll promises by promising 6 LPG cylinders per annum to AAY households.
Mir claimed he was also sure that his Government would soon deliver on its commitments to the Asha Workers, Daily Wagers and other workers.
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