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| This time, will daughters’ Bill divide NC, Congress? | | PR disqualification Bill is among 46 listed for assembly business | | Early Times report
Jammu , Feb 21
The ghost of the ‘daughters’ bill’ that once threatened the very existence of the Peoples Democratic Party-Congress coalition government in 2004 and continued to haunt for another year is again back in 2010 in new formulation even as a piece of proposed legislation seeking to take back the Pakistan occupied Kashmir. This is to be seen with keen interest whether National Conference takes the stand on controversial Bill it took six years back or succumbs to the ruling partner Congress.
Presented by former Deputy Chief Minister and Peoples Democratic Party leader Muazaffar Hussain Baig, ‘the Jammu and Kashmir Permanent Resident Disqualification Bill 2010’ is among 46 Private Members’ Bills listed discussion in the 45-day budget session of state legislature that begins here tomorrow. The bill seeks disqualification of a state subject woman from the permanent resident status upon her marriage or a non permanent resident female upon termination of her marriage.
The Permanent Residents Disqualification Bill was one of the biggest political controversies of the decade which not only threatened the communal and regional harmony in Jammu and Kashmir but also invited nationwide repercussions. Moved by the PDP, a sleeping Congress could not notice when Bill was passed by the Legislative Assembly in March 2004. Congress got out of the slumber only when the Bill reached Legislative Council. Had the Bill passed on Legislative Council in a specially convened session that continued till midnight in April 2004, the next morning there would not have been anything like PDP-Congress coalition government.
It was the then National Conference leader Abdul Rashid Dar entangled the Bill in technical jargon and saw into it that there was no voting. Dar was accused by his party National Conference of playing for the interests of PDP and was subsequently expelled from party unceremoniously. As the state stood sharply and bitterly polarized between Kashmir and Jammu regions and between two communities, the National Conference (the main opposition party) had wanted the Bill to be passed.
In 2004, despite being arch rivals the ruling PDP and the opposition NC had taken a joint stand the way they later took together on delimitation and Amarnath land row. This time, the seating arrangements have been reversed as NC is on treasury benches. Now the PDP has come with same piece of legislation and it is to be keenly watched what stand the National Conference takes. The ruling party will find itself caught between the power factor and its Kashmir-centric political constituency already threatened by the Peoples Democratic Party.
In all 46 Private Members’ Bills have been accepted for discussion in the current assembly session. Sources said that 62 Private Members’ Bills were received by the Legislatives Assembly Secretariat but 16 of them were disallowed. Sources said that some of the Bill not entertained were beyond the ‘jurisdiction of the House’ while others had already been discussed or considered. One of the Bills disallowed for want of jurisdiction of the House was about seeking take back of Pakistan occupied Kashmir which is subject of Parliament. It may be recalled here that such a resolution already stands passed in the Parliament of India in 1994 when PV Narasimha Rao was Prime Minister.
Besides 46 Bills, there are 112 Private Members’ Resolutions listed by as many as 30 members. The ensuing Budget session listed a total 1076 questions which include 597 starred and 479 unstarred. In fact 1133 questions were actually received but out of them 57 were rejected.
Meanwhile, this evening, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired the legislature party meeting of the coalition partners here. Besides the legislators of National Conference and Congress, the meeting was participated by the President J&K Democratic Party, (Nationalist), Ghulam Hassan Mir, the State Secretary CPI(M) MY Tarigami and the President PDF, Hakim Mohammad Yasin.
IN THE HOUSE
Permanent Residents Disqualification Bill had nearly brought down PDP-Congress coalition government in 2004.
NC had then supported the Bill but Congress was strongly opposed. Bill finally fell down the next autumn session.
This time, PDP’s Muzaffar Baig is bringing Private Members’ Bill on disqualification of permanent residentship of women marrying outside state.
There are a total of 46 Private Members’ Bills listed for the business in current Budget session.
16 Bills were disallowed for reasons including lack of jurisdiction. One such Bill sought taking back of Pakistan occupied Kashmir which already stands passed by Parliament as resolution.
There will 112 Private Members Resolutions and 1076 questions, including 597 starred and 479 unstarred.
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