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| BJP, JKNPP, JSM stage walkout, Cong opposes move | | Uproar continues over 'daughters' Bill | |
ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 13: The Lower House of State Legislature continued to witness uproarious and noisy scenes on second consecutive day today with Jammu based legislators cornering the ruling coalition partners over introduction of Permanent Resident Disqualification Bill in the Legislative Council by a Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) legislator.
Accusing the National Conference led government of "anti-Jammu" and "discriminatory" against the women, all the legislators of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and Jammu State Morcha (JSM) staged a walkout from the House.
The PDP legislator, Murtaza Khan introduced a Private Member's Bill seeking to debar women of their right to property if they marry someone from outside the state.
The trouble erupted during Zero Hour when JSM legislator, Ashwani Kumar Sharma raised the issue of introduction of PR Disqualification Bill in Legislative Council. Seeking the Government's reply, he pointed out that the Bill was categorically rejected in Lower House during last budget session. "How did the Government allow an opposition MLA to introduce the Bill?" he questioned.
Responding to the point made by the JSM MLA, Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue and Relief said, "Introduction of a Bill does not mean the Bill has been accepted. The discussion over Bill is yet not held."
"Hum To Yeh Dekh Rahe The Koun Koun Se Thailey Se Billi Bahar Aati Hai…,." Bhalla remarked. He however, said, "Our party's stand is very clear and we had opposed this Bill when it was introduced in the Lower House. Our party president and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi have advocated women's reservation and rights. Our party has pro-women approach and mere introduction of Bill does not mean it got implemented. Some parties want to exploit the issue and are misleading the women over it. We oppose this Bill"
Leader of Congress Legislature Party, Choudhary Mohammad Aslam said, "Our party's stand is very clear and it oppose the Bill which seeks to debar women of their right to property if they marry someone from outside the state.
Even after the Minister's response, the opposition members continued to make noisy scenes seeking a ruling from the Speaker, Mohammad Akbar Lone. They rushed to the front row and shouted slogans against the Government. "Kala Kanoon Nahi Chalega Nahi Chalega…….. Mahila Virodhi Sarkar……," they shouted.
Nizam-ud-Din Bhat, PDP MLA said, "Congress, National Conference and PDP had supported the Bill in past. As the Bill has been introduced in the Upper House of State Legislature, neither procedure nor constitution allows the members to raise the issue in this House."
Contesting the assertions of the PDP legislator, the JKNPP legislator said, "Whenever the government introduced the Private Member's Bill on Delimitation of Assembly segments, it was rejected at its introductory stage. Why this Bill was allowed to introduce in the Upper House."
Rejecting the charge of JKNPP MLA, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar said, "The assertions of members opposing the Bill don't have much substance. There is no violation of the Constitution as any member can introduce a private members bill. The fate of the bill would be decided after discussions and the opposition is making a hue and cry before the measure is debated."
Chaman Lal Gupta however reacted sharply to the Minister's reply and said, "Government itself stands exposed. There were other Bills comprising reservation of eight seats for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), settlement of West Pakistan refugees and Delimitation of assembly constituencies which were not allowed to introduce in the House."
When all Jammu based legislators started leaving the House in protest against the introduction of the Bill, Harsh Dev Singh remarked, "Yeh Coalition Government Nahi Balqi Collision Government Hai (This is not a coalition government but a collision government)."
Later, talking to media persons, Chaman Lal Gupta alleged, "The bill discriminates women. The bill is anti-Jammu and anti-women and would deprive our girls' ancestral rights to own land, property and jobs if they marry outside the state. We think it's unconstitutional and erodes fundamental rights."
He further alleged that the Congress is playing "second fiddle" role to its coalition partner which has dominated the Congress Party. "Congress' double speak stood exposed when it allowed PDP legislator to introduce the Bill," he maintained.
Ashwani Kumar Sharma warned that the coalition would not be allowed to implement such "black laws".
Harshdev Singh said, "A bill which is aimed at amending the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be introduced in the Upper House. Every bill has to go through Assembly for its passage."
"We strongly oppose the attitude of the Government in allowing the introduction of bill which debars our daughters' rights on state land if they marry a non-state subject. The Bill is highly discriminatory against women and outrageous in its present form," he said.
He charged that the introduction of Bill reflects the Government's parochial, highly prejudicial and biased approach towards Jammu region.
"Coalition partners do not have consensus and accord. They are vertically opposite to each other with regard to their election manifesto. Inki Ladai Aab Parde Ke Piche Nahi Public Aur House Mein Aa Gayi Hai," he remarked.
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