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| Sexual assault, administrative units dominate first day of budget session | | Unrelenting opposition forces Guv to cut short his address | | Bashir Assad
JAMMU, Feb 10: The month long Budget Session of the J&K legislature began on a stormy note today morning with opposition legislators disrupting the Governor NN Vohra's speech which forced him to cut short his speech.
As soon as Governor started addressing the joint session of the State legislature in the central hall of the assembly this morning, opposition parties PDP, BJP and Independent MLA, Er. Rashid created uproar and disrupted the address demanding arrest of the ex-Minister Shabir Khan wanted in a sexual assault case and lack of basic facilities to the people in the state.
The opposition PDP, BJP and independent legislator Er Rashid created ruckus demanding arrest of ex-minister, Shabir Ahmad Khan and accusing government of discrimination in creation of new administrative units in the state.
The BJP MLAs observed a brief sit-in outside the central hall, however, as soon as the Governor started his speech, PDP and BJP leaders created noisy scenes over the "lopsided and discriminatory" creation of new administrative units. They also slammed the Government for "protecting the ex-minsiter Shabir Khan."
"Is the ex-minister above law," the legislators asked. "Why isn't he being arrested? Where is the state's intelligence grid that it is boasting about?"
Senior PDP leader and MLA Bandipora while leading the protesting MLAs from the front said the Governor's address lacks sanctity as government has failed to extend speedy justice to the complaining doctor despite protests and judicial order.
Bhat deplored that even judiciary, law and constitution is run at the whims of so called rulers of the state. Bhat was soon joined by all other PDP MLAs including Sayed Basharat Bukhari, Dr. Shafi Ahmad and A R Veeri who said women are put to disgrace in the state and government pampers criminals.
Accusing the government of compromising even the social ethos of the state, the protesting members refused to relent. MLC Mohammad Ashraf Mir shouted loudly, "Governor sahib insaaf chahye" forcing the Governor to cut short his address and leave without reading the full text of the address.
Er Rashid, independent legislator said the "creation of new administrative units was a conspiracy to change the demography of the State."
Some legislators also sought resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand alleging that he was "involved in murder cases." BJP legislators blamed government for not providing basic amenities like water, electricity to the people of the state besides poor development and mis-governance. BJP MLA from Reasi Baldev Raj Sharma also raised allegations of murder, rape and corruption against the Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand. He demanded action against the Deputy Chief Minister asserting that if arrest warrants have been issued against ex-Minister Shabir Khan then why Tara Chand is being 'spared'.
The members led by Legislative Party leader Ashok Khajuria later staged walkout of the Governor address amid slogans. Amid complete pandemonium, the Governor stopped his speech midway and talked to the Deputy Chairman of the LC and the Speaker, before cutting short his speech. The speech ended for just 10 to 15 minutes against 40 to 45 minutes. Earlier, CPI(M) and PDF legislators, M Y Tarigami and Hakim Mohammad Yasin observed a brief sit-in outside the central hall demanding reopening of Pathribal fake encounter case in which Army exonerated its personnel. Holding placards in their hands Tarigami, Hakim and Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party members however, boycott the Governor address terming the achievements of the Omar-led government as total failure. |
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