Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 31: The Upper House of the State Legislature today witnessed protests and sloganeering over the rain and flood situation in Kashmir and other parts of the State and the alleged failure of Government to provide adequate help and relief to the affected people.
`Entire Opposition’, comprising of National Conference and Congress Members trooped into the `Well’ of the House and started protest, soon after the Legislative Council commenced its normal business today. The members raising various newspapers were pointing towards the reports of floods and destruction caused due to landslides. They also alleged that Government was not providing proper information and Highway has not been opened. With this many Kashmir and Doda-Kishtwar bound passengers have been struck at many places and in Jammu.
All the members expressing their concern alleged that Government is ill-informed and the ministers do not have the updated information regarding destruction, damages caused specially in Kashmir Valley and parts of Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Udhampur, Reasi, Rajouri and Poonch.
Dr Shenaz Ganai from NC said that no information has been given regarding damages in Poonch and Mandi and where many houses have collapsed. Naresh Gupta from Congress alleged that entire Government is focusing on Kashmir while no minister even from the BJP is concerned about the losses and damages in Bhaderwah, Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban and Rajouri-Poonch. They are least bothered about the sufferings of the people from this region. Even the BJP Ministers who have won on the mandate of Jammu people are confined to Kashmir valley only for review of situation.
All the opposition Members including Sajjad Kichloo, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, Showkat Ganai, Jugal Kishore, Naresh Gupta, Master Noor Hussain, Dr Shehnaz Ganai, Ghulam Nabi Monga, Ali Mohd Dar, D S Oberai, Sham Lal Bhagat continued their protest in the Well of the House. They were raising slogans against the Coalition Government.
The Acting Chairman Jehangir Hussain Mir tried to intervene and restore order but he failed despite his repeated attempts.
Minister for CAPD Ch Zulfkar Ali and Minister for Law and Justice Sayed Basharat Bukhari tried to intervene and said that Divisional Commissioners of Kashmir and Jammu have been directed to collect latest information from various districts and forward the same to the House. They said as and when the information is received the same will be shared with the Members of this House. The members, however, continued their protest, disrupting proceedings for about 10 minutes. Then all the agitating NC and Congress members staged walk out at around 11.10 am. Many questions of the opposition members could not be taken up during Question Hours due to walk out.
Follow our WhatsApp channel