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| BJP, JKNPP legislators clash with Jora, stages walkout | | 'Discrimination with Jammu' | |
Arteev Sharma
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 4: Slamming the ruling alliance for "discrimination" in allocation of funds for preservation of water bodies and promotion of tourism sector in Jammu region, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Panthers Party legislators today clashed with the Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora and staged walkout from the Legislative Assembly.
The issue also led to pandemonium and noisy scenes by the Opposition members, who charged the ruling dispensation with following "discriminatory" policies against Jammu region.
The trouble erupted when Panthers Party legislator, Harsh Dev Singh while quoting the figures of funds sanctioned for preservation of Wullar Lake and Dal Lake in Kashmir Valley and Mansar and Surinsar Lake in Jammu region, alleged that water bodies and tourism sector in Jammu have been completely ignored by the Government as far as allocation of funds is concerned.
He was raising a supplementary to question asked by Mohammad Sharief Niaz during question hour.
"In the Governor's address, it was maintained that 92 lakh pilgrims and tourists had visited the State last year and out of which, 82 lakhs alone visited the holy shrines and tourist places in Jammu. We are not against the allocation of Rs 356 crore for Wullar and Rs 300 crore for Dal lake preservation," the JKNPP MLA asserted.
He further said, "the State Government has submitted a proposal of Rs 2200 crore for protection of Jhelum river to the Centre while a plan of Rs 25 crore only has been formulated for river Tawi in Jammu which itself speaks the amount of discrimination with the people of Jammu."
Harsh Dev Singh warned the Government that they cannot ignore tourism sector of Jammu region at the cost of other places in the State. "You have to ensure that no region is meted out injustice and discrimination in terms of development and allocation of funds," he said.
As soon as the JKNPP MLA concluded his speech, all BJP MLAs were on their feet and grilled the Government over alleged discrimination with Jammu.
Ashok Khajuria said, "Aap Logo Ko Jammu Ki Yaad Nahi Aayee………" which was retorted by the Minister, who said, "Aap Jammu Ke……Bane Baithe Hai."
The Minister's remark virtually added fuel in the fire with all the BJP and Panthers Party MLAs rushing to the front row. Amid din, Khajuria sought apology from the Minister.
BJP MLAs comprising Jugal Kishore Sharma and Durga Dass accompanied by JKNPP MLAs Harsh Dev Singh and Yash Pal Kundal exchanged heated arguments with Jora before staging walk out from the House. The JKNPP MLA, Balwant Singh Mankotia did not follow his party MLAs and stayed inside the Assembly.
The Minister, however, informed that the Government has formed Tourism Development Authority 'exclusively' for preservation of Mansar and Surinsar Lakes.
To counter the opposition, Jammu based members of coalition partners comprising Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, Abdul Majid Wani and Vakar Rasool accused the BJP and JKNPP of ceasing Jammu region to only Jammu district.
Wani remarked, "Jammu Ka Dard Hume Bhi Hai, Par Yeh Log To……………" while Vakar Rasool shouted, "Inke Liye Jammu Ka Matlab Sirf Jammu District Hai…"
The Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone advised the Minister for owing "collective responsibility" on the behalf of the Government. "You must owns collective responsibility on the behalf of the Government, besides taking care of interest of Jammu region particularly Mansar and Surinsar lakes while allocating funds for development," he said.
Later, Minister for PHE and Irrigation, Taj Mohi-ud-Din clarified that no discrimination has been meted out with Jammu region vis-à-vis allocation of funds for preservation of water bodies. "A proposal of Rs 100 crore for protection of river Tawi was submitted to the Union Government. The Centre has released the first installment of Rs 25 crore each for maintenance of Jhelum and river Tawi and work has been undertaken by the Government in this regard," he maintained.
Earlier, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Vakar Rasool and Chaman Lal Gupta also raised supplementaries to the question.
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