Minister’s remarks create stir in Assembly, MLAs demand debate on their privileges

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: The remarks of the Sports Minister that consultation of MLAs before starting developmental works was not imperative today created stir in the Legislative Assembly with MLAs cutting across party lines demanding thorough debate on their privileges and protocol.
Even the Speaker Kavinder Gupta disapproved the comments of the Minister and said that MLAs being representatives of the people have every right to be informed about the developmental works in their respective constituencies.
While raising supplementary question about construction of Indoor Sports Hall in Samba, BJP MLA Dr Devender Kumar Manyal said, “I was consulted on the Indoor Stadium about one year back and thereafter I received no message from the Sports Council about start of the work”, adding “it is only through the Minister’s reply that I have come to know that construction work has been taken up by the Council”.
He stressed that concerned departments should inform the MLAs about initiation of developmental works in their respective constituencies as legislators are more aware of the developmental needs of the people.
However, the Minister for Youth Services and Sports Imran Raza Ansari said, “it is not necessary to inform the MLAs….it’s purely the prerogative of the concerned department and the Minister Incharge”.
These remarks of the Minister created stir in the House with BJP MLA from Jammu City Rajesh Gupta seeking clarification vis-à-vis privileges and protocol of the elected representatives of the people.
“Not only in respect of Indoor Stadiums the MLAs are not consulted by majority of the departments before initiating developmental works in their respective constituencies”, he informed the House and asked, “where are the privileges and protocol of the legislators”.
He was also joined by some legislators of ruling and Opposition parties.
“Indoor Sports Halls are being constructed as per the wishes and aspirations of the PDP leaders”, National Conference MLA Ishfaq Jabbar said, adding “the Sports Council has become youth wing of the People’s Democratic Party and MLAs are being completely ignored by the Council as well as other departments”.
Seeking intervention of the Speaker Kavinder Gupta, BJP MLA Rajesh Gupta demanded that there should be debate in the House on the privileges and protocol of the elected MLAs so as to send a clear message to all the departments. “I request you to hold one hour debate on this issue”, he told the Speaker.
Speaker also disapproved the comments of the Minister and said, “it is a fact that MLAs are not being consulted and this should not happen”.
Replying to the queries of the MLAs, the Sports Minister said, “the Indoor Sports halls are being constructed under Special Package for Development of Sports Infrastructure and Government of India teams finalize the sites as such we have very limited role”.
“The Government of India has approved construction of multipurpose Indoor Sports halls in all the 22 districts of the State and construction work has been started in many districts”, the Minister further said.

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