Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Feb 17: The food scarcity issue rocked the State Assembly here, today with entire Opposition staging a walkout from the House accusing the Government of its failure to keep its commitment to supply 35 kgs ration per family in the State.
The Opposition members who were not satisfied with Minister of State for CAPD, Vikar Rasool’s reply protested in the House and shouted slogans against the Government for its failure to keep its commitment to supply 35 kgs of ration per family in the State and later staged a walkout.
Earlier Opposition members disrupted the Question Hour for 15 minutes raising various issues concerning the people of the State and sought a reply from the Government.
However their plea was turned down by the Speaker Mubarak Gul who said that he will allow the members to raise these issues after Question Hour.
As the House assembled at 10 am this morning, Yashpaul Kundal of NPP, Garu Ram, Durga Dass and Bharat Bushan of BJP stood up from their seats and demanded a reply from the Government on GAD order violating the SC guidelines on promotions to SCs employees.
They also waved some papers in the House pointing towards the GAD order. Soon PDP, BJP and NPP members as well as Ashwani Sharma of Jammu State Morcha (JSM) stood up from their seats and raised some questions turning Speaker’s attention towers them.
The members also came to front rows and demanded reply to the issues raised by them. They were showed concern over yesterday’s road mishap at Battery Chashma near Ramban on Jammu -Srinagar National Highway in which 14 people were killed and injured.
The CPI (M) MLA, M Y Tarigami and Congress MLA, G M Saroori also stood up from their seats and started arguments with Speaker Mubarak Gul, whose repeated pleas to members to go to their seats failed to yield results and they continued protest to seek a reply from the Government.
Saroori said that there were no helicopters for lifting the dead and they were taken into buses.
Tarigami said that it is not the question of copter or bus but he wanted to know what happened to the recommendations of last time.
He was joined by Hakim Yasin of PDF who tried to raise the hailstorm and compensation issue. Speaker told them that he will take up all the points after Question Hour.
But Saroori, Kundal and Ashok Khajuria continued their arguments with the Speaker and nothing was heard in the din. Meanwhile Choudhary Zulfkar and Basharat Bukhari of PDP came to first row and started arguments with Speaker. They were supported by all PDP members who also stood up form their seats and continued speaking to disrupt the Question Hour.
The BJP and NPP members came to front row also and started arguments. The repeated pleas of Speaker made no impact on them and they continued noise to disrupt the Question Hour.
Later order was restored for some time and the Speaker asked Saroori to raise his question.
However as Minister of State for CAPD, Vikar Rasool tried to reply the question, neither Saroori nor other Opposition members were satisfied by his reply. They all raised the food scarcity issue saying that not to speak of 2011 census the people were not being supplied the ration as per the 2001 census.
All the Opposition members stood up from their seats including leader of Opposition Mehbooba Mufti showing concern over ration problem faced by people.
Saroori too was not satisfied with the reply and created an embarrassing situation for Minister by raising one supplementary after another. He even went to the extent of saying that “Yeh Soi Hui Sarkar Hain” (This Government is in slumber).
PDP’s Abdul Rehman Veeri said non availability of ration is a serious issue as three lakh people are without ration cards in the State and this means 15,000 people in entire J&K are without ration.
He said people especially Gujjars and Bakerwals are facing problems for ration and it is difficult for them to get even a single kg of ration. He said it is easy to get a passport but not ration card.
NPP’s Harshdev Singh said that ration cards have not been issued in Udhampur district and no where 35 kgs of ration is given to people. The Government is answerable for that, he added.
He also wanted to know why Rehbar-e-Khurak was not implemented till date.
BJP’s Jugal Kishore said that Government claims Food Security Bill and no one knows when it will be implemented but the fact is that people in J&K get 12 kgs of ration and not 35 kgs as committed by the Government.
Prof Chaman Lal Gupta, MLA Jammu West said that the Government has committed to provide 35 kgs of ration to all. During Srinagar session the Minister even announced that Government will provide 50 kgs of ration but people no where get even 35 kgs. He wanted to know that is Minister’s announcement regarding 35 kgs based on reality.
Engineer Rashid while raising the issue of ration scarcity said administration is in deep slumber and if situation did not change after one week people will ghearo Minister.
Rashpaul Singh of NC demanded immediate ration for two months be supplied while G M Jan said that ration is not supplied in Poonch.
PDP’s Haq Nawaz said even ration is not being given as per 2001 census. In 2009 they said the Government will provide ration as per 2011 census and now they are answerable that why the ration is not being provided as per census.
M Y Tarigami who also intervened said that it is easy to get tehsildar but not ration card. Even there is no mention about ration cards in budget, he added.
When Speaker asked Minister to reply the queries, Ashwani, Mankotia, Zulafkar Choudhary and Haq Nawaz stood up to raise supplementaries. But Speaker did not allow them. The members said that bifurcation has not been done as per 2011 census and ration is not provided as per this census.
Meanwhile, Mankotia came to front row and later near Well of the House. This was followed by PDP and BJP members also who too stood up and came to front row and shouted slogans like Jo Sarkar Ration Nahi Dey who Sarkar Nikami Hain (The Government which can’t provide ration is worthless). However the Minister continued the reply but opposition did not pay heed to it.
In the meantime, Speaker pointed towards Tarigami to raise his question and Minister of Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo stood up to reply but nothing was heard in the din as the Opposition continued shouting slogans Bashan Nahi Dou ration Dou, (Do not give speech but ration) and Ration Pani Dey Na Sakey Voh Sarkar Nikami Hain (Govt which can’t provide ration and water is worthless).
Later entire Opposition including Prof Chaman Lal Gupta staged a walkout.
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