Bivek Mathur
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 23: Noisy scenes were witnessed in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today as opposition-Congress and National Conference demanded compensation of the Banihal avalanche victims.
Opposition members also alleged Speaker Kavinder Gupta of gagging the opposition. Accusing Gupta of being inclined towards, NC's Davender Rana said, "You are the Speaker of this house and not of the Government".
The uproar started after MLA Banihal Vikar Rasool raised his voice of dissent over alleged neglect of government towards an emergency situation that had arisen in Banihal constituency following death of three people including two women and a child in snow avalanche on Saturday. Soon after the MLA Banihal raised the issue, speaker tried to restrain Rasool but other members of the opposition including Davender Rana, Usman Majid, Rigzin Zora, Ali Mohd Sagar, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, Mian Altaf, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Mohd Akbar Lone, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, Shamima Firdous, Mohd Amin Bhat Javid Ahmed Rana, Gulzar Ahmed Wani, Deldan Namgial and others joined the protest and asked government to clear its stand on compensation to the avalanche victims.
Dr. Nirmal Singh, Deputy Chief Minister, replying on behalf of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that government has taken all measures to compensate the avalanche victims but was objected by Davender Rana who said, "Government should come clear and there should be no uncertainty over the compensation as the issue is very serious". "You are under obligation to reply on the approach of the government", lamented Mohd Akbar Lone.
"You cannot muzzle the voice of opposition," senior National Conference leader and party MLA Ali Mohammed Sagar said after the Speaker asked not to create disturbance in the House. Later on, Vikar Rasool staged walk out from the House alleging government of being non serious towards an important issue. |
