Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 24: As Mehbooba Mufti braced up to face her maiden Legislature session as the Chief Minister from tomorrow, it was not only the Opposition parties—National Conference and Congress, which have geared up to corner the first ever PDP-BJP coalition Government but even some ruling BJP MLAs could also embarrass the Government by raking up certain sensitive issues.
“It wasn’t going to be any kind of smooth sailing for Ms Mufti, who would be facing her first Legislature test as first women Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir though she had successfully led 21-members PDP Legislature Party as an Opposition leader for six years (2002-2008). She would have to face not only the NC, Congress, CPM opposition but also some Independent MLAs. Some ruling BJP MLAs could also trouble the Alliance just like the District Development Board (DDB), Jammu meeting,’’ political observers told the Excelsior.
According to them, the issues going to dominate budget session of the Legislature, which will start in Srinagar tomorrow with Governor NN Vohra’s Address to Joint Session of Legislature, including Sainik Colony, separate colonies proposed for Kashmiri Pandits, National Entrance Eligibility Test (NEET), National Food Security Act (NFSA), Centre’s categorical denial to return two power projects to Jammu and Kashmir, spurt in militancy etc.
Well aware of the Opposition strategy, the PDP-BJP coalition has also geared up to meet the Opposition challenge. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh have briefed the legislators of the two parties not to fall in the trap of Opposition and highlight achievements of the Government besides countering the Opposition with facts and figures.
However, there were voices of dissent within the BJP, which have started coming out in the open.
BJP firebrand MLA from Nowshera Ravinder Raina went on record saying the pro-separatist voices from some of the Ministers should stop.
“We are in the Government. There is no doubt about that. But at the same time, there can be no compromise on nationalism. We can’t tolerate change of Hari Parbhat’s name. We can’t tolerate ban on ABVP in Jammu University. There should be no opposition to rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandits and construction of Sainik Colony,’’ Raina declared on the eve of Session. He added that issues of Jammu and Ladakh are core to the heart of the BJP and will remain whether the party is in the Government or not.
BJP MLA from Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia said they were accountable to the people though they were part of the Government.
“After few years, we will be asked by the refugees what we have done for them. Similarly, there are many others issues of the people. We have to address them,’’ Jasrotia said.
Another party MLA, Rajiv Sharma (Akhnoor) said the issue of PHE daily wagers and power cuts were required to be addressed as entire Akhnoor tehsil was suffering shortage of power and water.
Veteran National Conference leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone said his party would take on the PDP-BJP coalition Government right from the Day 1 on the issue of separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits and Sainik Colony. Clarifying that the NC was not against return of the Pandits, he said the party was not opposed to return of the Pandits but was opposing separate hamlets for them, which was part of BJP-RSS agenda and the PDP has become a “party to it’’.
Describing NFSA as “direct attack’’ on Article 370 of the Constitution of India, granting special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Lone pointed out that the BJP Government has categorically refused to return any power project to Jammu and Kashmir, which was a “slap on the PDP’s face’’.
“What answer Mehbooba Mufti would give to Handwara victims’’? he asked.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Nawang Rigzin Jora, former Minister said the Congress was going to highlight “no achievements’’ of PDP-BJP Government—first during Mufti Sayeed regime and now Mehbooba Mufti’s rule.
He said: “there has been no forward movement in the ‘Agenda of Alliance’ of PDP-BJP Government. There are contradictions between PDP and BJP on rehabilitation of KPs, construction of Sainik Colony, ban on ABVP etc’’.
Jora said people throughout the State have been protesting again “wrong decision’’ of the State Government to implement NFSA as there was no ration for the people, militancy is increasing, there was no adequate rehabilitation of flood victims and BJP Minister Lal Singh was engaged in issuing “utter irresponsible’’ statements, which will be part of the Congress agenda in the Assembly.
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