Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 25: The decision by Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to exclude the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Conference (PC), Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) from the panel to draft the rules of procedure for conducting business in the House has sparked widespread criticism.
On Tuesday, the Speaker announced the formation of a nine-member committee tasked with drafting the procedural rules ahead of the upcoming Budget session. The panel, constituted under Rule 363 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, includes eight MLAs alongside the Speaker as its ex-officio chairman. However, the absence of representation from key regional parties has raised political tensions.
The committee is dominated by members from major parties, with three MLAs from the National Conference (NC), two from the BJP, and one each from Congress and CPI-M, along with an independent legislator aligned with the ruling coalition. Members include Mubarak Gul (NC), Justice (Retired) The panel includes eight MLAs alongside the Speaker as its ex-officio chairman.
The absence of representation from key regional parties has raised political tensions.
The exclusion of the PDP, PC, AIP, and AAP has drawn sharp criticism, with accusations of marginalizing regional voices.
Move underscores a growing divide within J&K’s political landscape.
The exclusion of the PDP, PC, AIP, and AAP has drawn sharp criticism, with accusations of marginalizing regional voices and smaller political outfits. Inam Un Nabi, spokesperson for AIP, took to social media platform X to express his discontent, accusing the NC of betraying its electoral promises. "Excluding staunch advocates of Article 370 & 35A from the Assembly Rules Committee is yet another betrayal by the NC. Their cozying up to BJP, sidelining regional voices, and abandoning electoral promises expose their hypocrisy," he wrote.
Political observers note that the move underscores a growing divide within J&K’s political landscape, with smaller parties alleging monopolization of legislative processes by larger entities. The controversy is expected to intensify as the Budget session approaches, with excluded parties likely to escalate their protests. |
