 Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 10: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday expressed the hope that the logjam in Parliament will end with Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement and the House will run smoothly. “If the Union Home Minister answers questions in the House (questions) about what happened at Jantar Mantar, or what happened while dealing with that protest there, and because of that, Parliament’s work resumes, it’s a good thing. People want Parliament to run. A lot of money is spent running the Parliament,” Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
The chief minister said that if the logjam continues even after the Home Minister answers the House, people will not find it right. “So, I hope the remaining days of Parliament will run smoothly,” he said.
After unrelenting Opposition protest since the start of the Monsoon session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Monday that the government is ready for a full-fledged discussion in Lok Sabha on the student agitations and police action “across the country”. He said the Union Home Minister Amit Shah will reply to the debate, provided the Opposition promises not to disrupt and listens peacefully.
Abdullah said the Home Minister addressing the concerns or issues raised by the Opposition in Parliament is a good development.
“That’s what the Parliament or any assembly is meant for. The opposition’s job is to raise issues, and the government’s job is to respond to those issues,” he added.
Responding to a question on violence during protests in Jharkhand over alleged recruitment examination irregularities, Abdullah said he does not have time to constantly follow developments in other states.
“As I told you, I don’t have so much free time that I can look at the condition of other states. What is happening in Jharkhand, let the Jharkhand government know. What else can I say besides this? I will only say that we want any protest to be peaceful, and we don’t want situations to deteriorate anywhere,” he said.
On speculation about expanding his council of ministers, Abdullah said, “It (expansion) will happen. Why wouldn’t it?
“You ask this question to the Prime Minister Sahib in Delhi? There, for how many months, reshuffle, reshuffle, reshuffle is being talked about, but no one asks there. Here, you are so worried. It will happen, don’t worry.”
Asked about the attack on Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee’s car, Abdullah said he cannot comment on everything happening in the country.
“Everything is fine here (Jammu and Kashmir),” he said. |
