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| Noisy scenes in LA; PDP stages walk out, Speaker reprimands Akhoon | | ‘Shortage of rations’ | |
Arteev Sharma
Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 3: The issue of "acute shortage" of rations and "poor" Public Distribution System across the State today created ruckus in the Lower House of the State Legislature with MLAs of different political parties grilling the ruling alliance for its "failure" to streamline and make distribution system more accountable across the state.
Amid pandemonium and noisy scenes, all the legislators of main Opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by party president, Mehbooba Mufti staged walk-out from the House. Besides, the Minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Qamar Ali Akhoon was also reprimanded by the Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone for making a "lengthy" reply over the issue.
It all happened soon after the Zero Hour when the Speaker allowed a special debate over the shortage of rations in the State after the PDP member Mansoor Hussain and BJP legislators Gharu Ram and Bharat Bhushan moved a half an hour discussion notice.
Though the discussion began at 11:25 a.m was scheduled for half an hour, it continued till 12:49 p.m. The Speaker, however, made several attempts to cut short the discussion but the legislators of different political parties including from coalition partners insisted for continuing the debate, pleading the issue was directly related to common man.
It was after an hour-long discussion, the Speaker directed Qamar Ali Akhoon for making a statement over legislators' concern on shortage of rations and discrepancies in BPL lists at around 12:25 p.m.
While the Minister was making a statement over the issues raised by the legislators, the Speaker asked him to cut short his statement at around 12:36 p.m. But, this time the Minister insisted for making a detailed reply and continued with his account.
In the meantime, the Speaker asked the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar to intervene. However, the Minister for CAPD did pay any attention to the request made by his Cabinet colleague and adhered with his reply.
Taking it an opportunity to dominate the discussion, all PDP legislators and few of them from BJP were on their feet and alleged that the Minister had been making "unsatisfactory" reply. "People have been subjected to several hardships and the Minister was talking about the reforms being brought in the department. He must ensure smooth supply of rations to the people," they shouted.
Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo however, defended his Cabinet colleague, Qamar Ali Akhoon, saying "If they have raised the issues for one hour, they must have the patience to listen the Minister's reply."
Amid din, all the PDP legislators staged walk-out from the House alleging "unsatisfactory" reply.
The PDP legislators' decision to leave the House without listening to the full reply of the Minister invited severe criticism from members of coalition partners particularly National Conference. NC legislators, Bimla Luthra, Aijaz Ahmed Jan and Vakar Rasool urged the Speaker for not allowing the PDP members to take part in any discussion.
Interestingly, even after the PDP's walk-out, the Minister did not stop his speech and he continued to make his statement.
While the Minister was presenting figures regarding rations provided to BPL and other families and funds spent on it, the Speaker got furious over it and reprimanded the Minister, saying "Mere showing figures does not redress the genuine problems of the people which has been brought into notice by the members. You must ensure whether the rations and funds released by the department have reached to the people."
"Figures Dikhanye Se Better Hoga Ke Aap Dekhe Ke Rations Aur Funds Aapni Jagah Par Pahunche Hai Ke Nai," the Speaker directed.
Earlier, the PDP MLA, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, who was the first to show his concern over the shortage of rations, asked the ruling alliance for adopting "serious" approach to redress the people's problems. "So far the Government has not realized the situation which is aggravating day by day. The CAPD department has totally failed to streamline distribution system and it should be very serious if it really wants to redress the plights of the people."
Gharu Ram, BJP MLA, alleged that the Government has no control, whatsoever, over the dealers distributing rations among the people. "No rate list has been displayed by the dealers and they are charging extra from poor people. Even the quality of rations is very poor," he charged and stressed for conducting re-survey to remove discrepancies from the BPL lists.
Expressing concern over discrepancies in the BPL lists, Harsh Dev Singh alleged that though the revision of BPL lists have been done in past but it did not include a large number of deserving families in it.
He alleged that rations and kerosene oil were being sold in black market and asked the government to ensure distribution of the rations to all categories of people.
In his speech, Ghulam Ahmed Mir said the flaws in the system should be corrected. "Cells should be set up at inter-state border terminal at Lakhanpur, Lower Munda Tool post and another on Leh route to verify the quantity of rations coming from the Centre," he said.
CPI (M) MLA, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami suggestion revamping of CAPD department and alleged that major chunk of rations are being subtracted by the officials in the department itself. "Aap Ke Department Main Bade Bade Chuhe Aagay Hai," he mocked.
Tarigami said, "We must adopt a unanimous resolution asking the Government of India to provide full quota of rations to Jammu and Kashmir."
Vakar Rasool, Abdul Haq, Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi and Ashwani Kumar Sharma also took part in the discussion.
In his reply, Akhoon informed the House that the State Government was vigorously pursuing with the Planning Commission of India to secure release of full BPL rations quota as per the existing population of families falling under this category so that all deserving families get rations at the subsidized rates.
"Besides, all the District Development Commissioners have been asked to re-verify the BPL lists within shortest possible time, as per the present population. The State, at present, is getting rations quota as per the figures of BPL families listed in 2001 census," he said.
The Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir was the only the State in the in the country which provides rations at the rate of 50 kg per rations card to the people. The expenses, for the additional 15 kg, on the central scale of 35 kgs are being borne by the state Government putting a burden of Rs. 104 crore on the exchequer.
The Minister said that presently the Department is also providing free rations, worth over Rs. 70.45 crore, to 1, 20, 367 drought affected families of the State.
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