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| Legislators' obsession for lal batti spills across Floor | | Govt defends, Opposition resents Cabinet order, proceedings adjourned following din | | Abodh Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 25: Legislators across party affiliations were exposed for their yearning to project themselves superior to those they represent as they scrapped each other off in the State Legislative Assembly today over their right to use lal battis atop their vehicles.
While those from treasury benches defended their right to use Red beacon in the light of Supreme Court directions, those in the Opposition rued their non inclusion in the privileged list.
As soon as the House met today and a liberal Speaker allowed the members to make their points at the beginning of the Question Hour, something he has opposed during the entire ensuing session, the Opposition legislators sprang up opposing the order passed by the State Cabinet the previous day which defined the Ministers, officers and services that were authorized to use different types of beacon lights atop their vehicles. The MLAs were anguished over the non inclusion of the MLAs in the privileged list while the Chief Secretary, the senior most bureaucrat in the State was authorized to used red beacon.
Hakim Yasin, Ashok Khajuria, Harsh Dev Singh, Abdul Rehman Veeri, Peerzada Mansoor, Basharat Bukhari and Balwant Singh Mankotia expressed their resentment over the order of the State Cabinet passed the previous day which withdrew the right of the MLAs/MLCs to use red beacon atop their vehicles, that they earlier reserved.
Hakim Yasin resented that while the legislators were authorized to use Red Beacon in an earlier order of the Government, they have now been left out of the list. AR Veeri said that it was a matter of the prestige of the House and the status of the legislator. Harsh Dev Singh questioned the logic behind authorising the Chief Secretary and keeping the legislators out of the list. "Is Chief Secretary a constitutional authority?" he asked.
MY Tarigami of the CPI (M) however argued that the order of the Cabinet was against the spirit of equality. He called upon the Ministers and the legislators to voluntarily give up Red beacon and shun VIP culture that divided the society.
Minister for Rural Development Ali Mohammad Sagar, reacting to the concerns of the House said that the decision of the Cabinet was in accordance with the guidelines of the SC. He reminded that the Chief Minister was first to pull off lal batti from his vehicle. Meanwhile, Sajjad Ahmad Kichloo, MoS Home stood up to announce that in view of the sentiments expressed in the House, he shall not use Red beacon as Minister.
The issue however refused to die down and was raised again when members questioned the Cabinet order later in the first sitting, terming it discriminatory. Members of the Opposition vehemently opposed the order and staged a protest. Minister for finance, AR Rather tried to pacify the agitating members explaining that the order was in the light of SC directions, the agitated members continued to protest, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House. |
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