Speaker chairs all party-cum-BAC meeting
*Party leaders urged not to disrupt Question Hour
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 30: Most of the budget session of Legislature beginning February 2 will be held in double sittings to give maximum time to the MLAs to raise their issues and seek replies from the Government.
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As many party leaders raised the issue of paucity of time during the session and sought timing from 10 AM to 5 PM which can be further extended if required, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather is reported to have assured them that most part of the session will be held in double sittings.
The assurance was reportedly held out by the Speaker at All Party-cum-Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting chaired by him in the Assembly Secretariat this afternoon.
While Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma couldn’t make it to the meeting due to his preoccupation with Assam Assembly elections where he is co-Incharge of the party, he was represented by the BJP leader Surjit Singh Slathia, former Minister.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader GA Mir told the Excelsior that most of the leaders from different parties suggested that during budget session, timing of the House should be extended so that the legislators get adequate time to raise their issues and seek replies from the Government.
“Grants of a Minister will be passed in a single day. A Minister is holding charge of five to six Ministries. What justice the MLAs and Minister will do with little time to speak,” Mir said, adding he suggested that entire budget session should be held in double sittings from 10 AM to 5 PM and time should be further extended if required.
The CLP leader said the Speaker has agreed to the request that most part of the budget session will be held in double sittings to do justice with the legislators.
Veteran CPM leader and five-time MLA MY Tarigami said timing was major issue in the meeting and he too called for converting entire budget session into double sittings to make it productive so that the MLAs can hold the Government accountable.
“The Speaker assured us that this will be done,” Tarigami said.
He said the Speaker also appealed to representatives of all political parties that they shouldn’t disturb the Question Hour as many people-centric issues are taken up through questions. All political parties assured the Speaker that they will try their best to ensure that the Question Hour runs smoothly.
Ruling National Conference was represented in the meeting by Ali Mohammad Sagar and Mubarak Gul while Mir Fayyaz was the PDP representative. Independent MLA from Surankote Choudhary Mohammad Akram was also present.
“The Members should carry out healthy debates and discussions which is the essence of democracy but at the same time they should strictly keep the discipline and should not encourage any disorder and disruption which tells upon the dignity of the House,” Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather said in his address to the meeting, adding the proceedings are watched by the people and any irresponsible behavior will send a wrong signal to them and as such the MLAs should behave as role models for the whole society.
The members also gave their valuable suggestions for making the current Assembly Budget session more fruitful and result oriented in the largest interest of the general public. They raised certain issues related to parking facilities in the Secretariat premises, restrict the entry into the lobby and canteen which are solely meant for the Members of the House.
The Speaker assured the Members that necessary directions have already been given to the concerned departments to make the appropriate arrangements for them.
He also said that a separate area at the main entrance of the Assembly Secretariat has been designated for the media interaction/interviews for the Members and no one will be allowed in the lobby area and Central hall area which will be kept exclusively for use by the Members.
Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Manoj Kumar Pandita and other senior officers of Assembly Secretariat also attended the meeting.
Budget session of the Legislature will start on February 2 with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who holds charge of the Finance Department, will present his second budget on February 6.
The session will last till April 4 with break from February 20 to March 26 because of Ramzan and Navratras. It will have a total of 22 sittings-15 in first half and seven in second part.
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