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| Inter-district recruitment row | | Bedlam in LA: 2 MLAs marshaled out | |
ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Mar 17: The Lower House of State Legislature today witnessed high-voltage drama when two legislators including one from the main Opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were marshaled out after an uproar over inter-district recruitments which, they alleged, were against the people of backward districts of the State.
The trouble erupted soon after the House assembled for the proceedings during the question hour this morning. The PDP MLA from Lolab, Abdul Haq Khan and MLA Langate, Engineer Abdul Rashid raked up the issue of inter-district recruitments and asked the government to table a long pending Bill seeking amendment into it.
Seeking complete ban on inter-district recruitments, the PDP MLA, Abdul Haq Khan alleged, "The Government was deliberately sitting over the Bill, which was sent to the Select Committee of Assembly last year. The Select Committee has given its recommendations and the Bill is ready. There is no logic to sit over it."
Referring to the alleged suicide attempts being made by the youth in Kupwara district, the PDP MLA alleged, "In Kupwara, youth had made abortive bids on their lives when they had climbed on trees for committing suicide. Youth were forced to take extreme steps including joining militancy."
"There was a complete consensus among the political parties. The government should bring the Bill into the House so that the youth of far-off and backward districts are delivered justice," he said.
Advocating the suggestion of PDP MLA, Engineer Abdul Rashid said the inter-district recruitments neglects the youths of backward districts and the government should immediately bring legislation in this regard. Both the MLAs stormed into the well and sought the government's reaction over the issue.
There was a complete bedlam and disorder in the House as the vociferous legislators of BJP, JKNPP and JSM were raising the issue of 'rehabilitation of stone pelters' which coincided with issue with inter-district recruitments.
The duo said the policy of inter-district recruitments should be done away with and the old method favouring people belonging to the concerned district should be adopted. "It is affecting the career of the youth in backward and mountainous districts of the state. Without getting jobs, the youth would be forced to join militancy," they said.
The Speaker directed both the MLAs to take their but to no avail. They continued to raise their issues and pressed for a suitable reply from the treasury benches.
Jugal Kishore Sharma of BJP also rushed towards the well, saying "Agar Yahi Par Baat Sunni Jaati To Hum Bhi Yaha Se Aapni Baat Kehte Hai."
It was after repeated pleas of the Speaker both the agitated MLAs returned to their respective seats. The MLAs, however, relentlessly raised the issue.
Suggesting the importance of the question hour, the Speaker remarked, "I know they are in loss. They must understand the importance of the question hour. They are giving chance to the government for escape from the public issue."
The MLA Langate alleged that it was a deliberate attempt of the government not to bring Bill the Budget session. "Inter-district recruitment is affecting the career of the youth in backward and remote districts of the state. Without getting jobs, the youth would be forced to join militancy," he charged.
Ignoring Speaker Mohmmad Akbar Lone's repeated request to 'calm down', the MLA continued to create uproar in the House. The Speaker said, "This is very bad Mr. Engineer. Behave like a good legislator. Please sit down."
After many requests, the Speaker directed the Marshals to evict the MLA from the House. Irate over the use of force by the Speaker, the PDP MLA also rushed towards the well and raised slogans against the government. The Speaker further directed the Marshal to take the PDP MLA out from the House.
Soon after the eviction of their party MLA from the House, the PDP MLAs resorted to sloganeering "Tanashahi Nahi Chalegi Nahi Chalegi………… Shame Shame………."
The Speaker asked the PDP legislators not to resort to cheap politics. "It is cheap politics. No cheap politics…… Aap Logo Ka Graph Nahi Chadega, Aapka Graph Gir Gaya Hai."
Infuriated over the Speaker's remarks, the PDP MLAs staged a walk-out from the House.
The inter-district recruitment was started during the period of Congress-led coalition government headed by Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2006.
Singing the tune of PDP MLA, the NC MLA Mir Saifullah said, "If the Select Committee has given its recommendations, the Bill should be brought into the House."
Later, the Speaker allowed both the evicted MLAs to rejoin the proceedings after 10 minutes gap.
Later, talking to the media persons, Engineer Abdul Rashid said, "There is total autocracy prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir. Is there any democracy? The government has failed to reply to our concern over inter-district recruitments."
"My eviction from the House was undemocratic and it was a blot on democracy. We were not allowed to raise our issue," he said.
He alleged that the government is 'sitting over' a Bill to amend the inter-district recruitments, since last year.
"Assembly is place where we can express our views freely but there is a complete autocracy," Abdul Haq Khan alleged.
He said, "In Kupwara district, 120 teachers have been appointed from outside the districts. The candidates from forward districts usually take benefit of this inter-district recruitment while candidates from remote and backward districts remain at the receiving end."
"If the government is really committed to do away with regional imbalances, it should re-introduce the process of recruitment," he asserted.
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