Fayaz Bukhari
Srinagar, June 24: In a major embarrassment for the Government, Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta, today made scathing remarks against it and said that it has insulted the House and the Chair by issuing a lease for mining to a Non-State Subject, in violation of earlier directions.
The Speaker in his remarks said that Industries Department has violated his directions on mining and has insulted the House. “My office had issued an order to the Commissioner-Secretary, Industries and Commerce Department, regarding the decision to keep SRO 105 (related to mining) in abeyance. It is unfortunate that this chair (of the Speaker) has been insulted and this House has been insulted,” he said.
Gupta was reacting after MLAs, cutting across party lines, protested against issuance of a lease to one Mohinder Pal Singh, a resident of Chandigarh, by the Industries Department for mining in Ravi river.
The Speaker also directed for an inquiry into how the order of sanctioning lease was passed as the High Court had stayed granting of mining leases while the House Committee was examining the SRO 105 and it was also put in abeyance.
Gupta directed that strict action should be taken against the officers who issued the lease order. “Strict action should be taken against these officials so that no one dares to repeat such a thing,” he added.
The issue was raised by CPI(M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami as soon as the House assembled this morning. “For the first time there was a consensus on an issue in this House and it was regarding SRO 105, which was put in abeyance and a House Committee formed to look into its provisions,” he said.
The MLA said even as the House Committee was examining the matter, the officials of the State Government issued lease to Singh for mining over 40 hectare in Ravi belt of Kathua district on June 22. “This is an insult of this House and insult of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. We will not allow Jammu and Kashmir to be put on sale,” the he added.
The CPI (M) MLA received support from entire opposition and Treasury benches over the issue. The members rose to their feet and demanded that the Minister should resign and strict action be taken against the officers who issued the order.
The BJP MLA Rajive Jasrotia expressed serious concern over the lease which he said is in violation of court orders. “What is this House for? This is mockery of this House. The Minister says, he has no knowledge”, he shouted.
Mohammad Akbar Lone who is the chairman of the House Committee that was formed to examine SRO-105 said that he is astonished that on one hand the Committee is deliberating the issue and on the other hand lease order has been issued. “It is breach of privilege against the Minister. How did he do it”, he asked.
Lone demanded that the Minister should resign and the Secretaries of Industry and PCB be suspended immediately and the order be revoked.
Nazir Gurezi demanded that the officers who have issued the order be put under suspension with immediate effect.
Industries and Commerce Minister, Chandra Prakash Ganga, tried to make a statement on the issue but was shouted down by the opposition members, who demanded his resignation. Ganga was later allowed to make a statement following the intervention of the Speaker. “I assure this House that this lease is not in my notice. We will examine this and there will be action on it as well. I will make a statement on it tomorrow,” the Minister said.
Revenue Minister Basharat Bukhari, however, said the officer who has issued the order should be placed under suspension with immediate effect. “The disrespect of the House won’t be tolerated”, he added.
The order was restored in the House after Speaker announced that the Industries Minister will issue statement after the Question Hour. However, later the Speaker announced that the Minister will make statement tomorrow.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel