Bashir Assad
Jammu, Mar 14: For the first time since the commencement of the ensuing budget session on February 28, the ruling National Conference was literally comfortable in the house in the absence of the single largest opposition Peoples Democratic Party which has announced to boycott the rest of the budget session though NPP, BJP, CPI (M) and PDF kept it on toes over the Kashmir situation.
The body language of the ruling National Conference Ministers was an indication that they were relaxed today which was also obvious from the fact that despite the Business Advisory Committee had in its meeting on Wednesday remarked that Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mir Saifullah should approach the opposition PDP requesting it to reconsider its decision of boycotting the proceedings of the house but Mir did not act upon the advise of the committee.
When the question hour was about to resume today after the disruption by NPP, BJP, CPI(M) and PDF, the Minister For Agriculture, Ghulam Hasan Mir intervened and requested the opposition PDP to reconsider its decision of boycotting the house as the house was not complete with the participation of single largest opposition group. Mir was supported by Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma who requested the opposition to reconsider its decision in the larger interest of the people and wanted to know as to whether the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister has approached the PDP as was decided in the Business Advisory meeting. Hakim Muhammad Yasin and MY Tarigami also made an appeal to the opposition PDP and asked the government to respond.
However, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mir Saifullah gave a vague reply saying that he was not sure if the PDP has announced the boycott for one day or for the entire session.
The tone and tenor of Rural Development Minister, Ali Muhammad Sagar was also an indication that the ruling NC was more comfortable with the boycott of PDP than its participation in the session. Sagar said though the opposition was life of the democracy but PDP never played the role of a constructive and healthy opposition. "They never listened to the Chief Minister whenever he rose to speak" said Sagar. |
