MLAs give vent to their grievances; DyCM, Satish become main target
Fayaz Bukhari
SRINAGAR, June 3: The ruling National Conference (NC) Legislature Party is holding a protest in New Delhi on the first day of the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to press for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir and constitutional guarantees.
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Speaking to reporters after the NC Legislature Party meeting, senior NC leader and Chief spokesperson of the party, Tanvir Sadiq said this evening that the party in its meeting has resolved to take its demands directly to the national capital.
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“The Legislature Party has decided that on the first day of the Monsoon Session, we will go to Delhi and protest, either at Jantar Mantar or another suitable venue, to demand restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees for Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
The NC leader said the meeting witnessed detailed discussions on a range of issues affecting different regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including development concerns, drug abuse, social issues and matters relating to Jammu, Kashmir, Pir Panjal and Chenab Valley.
“There was a threadbare discussion on all important issues. Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, patiently listened to everyone and all legislators participated in the deliberations,” he said.
Referring to the party’s political agenda, Sadiq said the leadership believes the time has come to intensify efforts for restoration of what was taken away from Jammu and Kashmir after the constitutional changes of 2019.
“Statehood remains our long-pending demand. We will go to Delhi and raise our voice for restoration of our constitutional guarantees and rights,” he said.
The NC leader said the meeting was attended by all National Conference MLAs, supporting Independent legislators and Members of Parliament associated with the party.
When asked about the possibility of a Cabinet expansion, Sadiq declined to comment, saying the matter falls within the domain of the Chief Minister.
“That is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. He will take a decision whenever he feels it is appropriate,” he said.
The NC Legislature Party meeting was held earlier in the day at Dachigam after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah led party legislators and allies to the venue for an off-site deliberation.
The meeting was attended by all the legislators and MPs except MPs Aga Syed Ruhullah and Main Altaf Ahmad. Ruhullah has not been attending the NC meeting for long time now due to his strained relations with the Chief Minister and Altaf told Excelsior that he was in New Delhi and had informed the party leadership about his engagements. However, his son MLA Kangan Mehar Ali attended the meeting.
Sources said that as the meeting began this morning at Dachigam, the Chief Minister asked the legislators to highlight their grievances and assured them that they will be addressed.
The legislators mostly targeted Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Minister Satish Sharma and accused them of turning a blind eye towards the issues faced by people in their respective constituencies.
The legislators questioned the functioning of the Roads & Buildings Department under the Deputy Chief Minister. They expressed resentment over discriminatory allocations made by R&B Minister as well as his behavior towards them.
The legislators from Pir Panchal targeted the Deputy CM for allocating lion’s share in funds and projects to the Nowshera Assembly constituency while neglecting other constituencies.
Giving figures of distribution of funds under NABARD, SASCI, Capex bridge programme and other schemes, the MLAs alleged that the Deputy CM had resorted to brazen discrimination in fund allotment.
The MLAs from Kashmir also spoke about the deteriorating roads in their respective constituencies and accused DyCM of neglect. Omar later directed the DyCM to address the grievances of the legislators within a month.
Some MLAs also complained about the functioning of Javaid Rana (Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control).
Majority of the MLAs told the meeting that it is difficult for them to face the people as they are unable to fulfil the promises made by them during the elections.
A proposal seeking a ban on the sale and consumption of liquor in Jammu and Kashmir also came up for discussion. Sources said it was decided that a committee would be constituted to examine the issue and submit recommendations.
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