Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 28: Accusing Government of discriminating with the Opposition represented areas in health and tourism sectors, the MLAs of National Panthers Party and People’s Democratic Party today created uproar in the Legislative Assembly before staging walkout.
The uproar started in the House when Minister for Health and Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, in reply to the question of PDP MLA from Mendhar, Sardar Rafiq Hussain Khan expressed Government’s inability to upgrade and establish new sub-centres owing to financial constraints.
“No health centre has been opened in our areas during the past four years despite numerous problems being faced by the people, who are compelled to cover a long distance to reach the health centres”, NPP MLA, Harshdev Singh said.
Alleging that Government was producing fake certificates to claim that J&K’s health sector is number one in the country, Mr Singh said, “I think the health sector of J&K is number one from the bottom”, adding “you are depriving the people particularly of the Opposition represented constituencies of healthcare benefits’.
While lodging strong protest over the issue, Mr Singh along with other two NPP MLAs-Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal staged walk-out. Even the PDP MLA from Mendhar, Sardar Rafiq Hussain Khan staged walk-out expressing dis-satisfaction over the reply of the Minister regarding establishment of health institutions in his constituency.
Meanwhile, several PDP MLAs created uproar in the House over discrimination with the Pulwama district in tourism sector before staging walk-out over the issue.
Several areas of the Pulwama district have huge tourism potential but the same remained untapped due to the discriminatory policy of the Government, the PDP MLAs said as soon as the Tourism Minister, Ghulam Ahmed Mir finished reply to the question of Congress MLA from Ramban, Ashok Kumar.
“There are several areas in Pulwama district which can attract more tourists as compared to Gulmarg but no focus has been laid till date to bring these spots on the tourism map of the State”, they regretted and wanted to know whether Government would initiate adequate steps to tap the potential.
As there was no satisfactory reply from the Government, PDP MLAs Syed Bashir, Mushtaq Shah, Zahoor Mir, Mohd Khalil Bandh and Nizamuudin Bhat left their seats in protest. However, they were reprimanded by the Deputy Speaker, Mohd Sartaj Madni, who was conducting the proceedings of the House at that time.
“I am sorry to say that you only want to create news”, remarked Deputy Speaker, adding “where were you when there was discussion on the grants of the Tourism Department. You should have raised this issue during the grants”.
However, after holding protest over the issue for some time, these PDP MLAs staged walk-out.
CPM MLA, Mohd Yousaf Tarigami also alleged neglect of Kulgam district and demanded that tourism potential of several areas of the district must be tapped. NPP MLA, Harshdev Singh demanded time-bound development of Dalsar lake in Udhampur district.
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