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| Microphones pulled off, chairs thrown around; PDP MLA injured | | Complete bedlam in LA over new administrative units | | Could coalition's prime political move backfire?
Abodh Sharma/
Bashir Assad
JAMMU, Feb 11: If what happened in the State Legislative Assembly today is an indication, the move to create new administrative units that coalition government thought would improve its electoral fortunes is likely to backfire badly.
On effectively the first day of the ensuing budget session of the state legislative assembly was witness to unprecedented pandemonium and bedlam as entire opposition created ruckus in the House alleging discrimination and political consideration as the only criteria in the creation of new units. In open exhibition of heightened tempers, the reputation and dignity of the peoples' House and the institution was left dented and a MLA injured seriously.
House slipped into complete acrimony as soon as it met in the morning with the MLAs of the PDP marching into the Well with placards that alleged discrimination with many areas of the valley which were denied administrative units. MLA Darhal, Zulfikar Ali led the other MLAs including Syed Bashir, Javed Mustafa, Basharat Bukhari, Abdul Haq Khan, Peerzada Mansoor, Nizamudin Bhat, Mushtaq Shah and others turned irate and toppled benches and climbed on the reporters' table to express their dissent vehemently. Marshalls grappled with the PDP MLAs to stop them from approaching the chair and tried to pull them down from the reporters' table when Speaker called for the first adjournment of the house for 15 minutes. The adjournment failed to pacify the agitated MLAs though, as Syed Bashir and Peerzada Mansoor continued to confront treasury benches with allegations of discrimination in creation of administrative units.
The House resumed after the adjournment, but nothing changed as once again, PDP MLAs marched into the Well and climbed atop reporters' table. Marshalls had a tough time controlling the MLAs. PDP MLAs were joined by the BJP and NPP MLAs who also alleged discrimination with Purmandal, Jindrah, Bishnah, Hiranagar and several other places. Durga Dass, Choudhary Sham Lal, Gharu Ram Bhagat, Lal Chand, Ashok Khajuria of the BJP and Harsh Dev Singh, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal of the NPP and Ashwini Sharma of the JSM alleged discrimination and political conspiracy in creation of new administrative units. Marshalls continued to struggle in keeping the agitated MLAs under control, but irate Syed Bashir threw chairs in the well of the House. The melee continued despite Speaker Mubarak Gul's repeated requests to the members to restore order in the House and assume their seats. PDP MLA from Tral Mushtaq Shah was injured in the free for all situation in the House and had to later seek medical attention. The Speaker again adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
The order was restored to some extent when leader of the opposition Mehbooba Mufti spoke to register the protest of people from across the state against discrimination in creation of the new administrative units. Questioning the criteria in creation of the new units, she resented that the comprehensive reports of Bloeria and Ganaie Committees were ignored and the cabinet sub- committee announced new units ignoring many a deserving areas, solely for political motives.
While Mehbooba was speaking, Engineer Rashid marched into the well of the house to register his protest. As he walked to wards the Chair, he entered into a bitter altercation with the Minister for Higher Education Mohammad Akbar Lone. The House was again reduced to a din and the Speaker was yet again forced to adjourn the House, this time for 20 minutes.
Amid din PDP legislators also raised issues like JKCA scam involving NC supremo Dr. Farooq Abdullah and custodial death of NC worker Yousuf Shah . Chaos and commotion forced the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.
Later, speaking to media persons outside the Assembly, PDP president and legislator Mehbooba Mufti said there has been gross discrimination against areas represented by the PDP in the proposed new administrative units. She said her party would not allow normal functioning of the house till the rights of people seeking new administrative units were restored. |
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