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| Uproar in LA over Dogra Certificate issue | | Verbal duel between Minister, Opposition members; NC, Congress difference surfaced | |
ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 1: Vociferous Opposition members belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and Jammu State Morcha (JSM) today put the coalition government in a tight spot when they wanted to know the steps taken to issue 'Dogra Certificate' the document required by Dogras for army recruitments.
Amid the pandemonium, the opposition members staged a walkout during Question Hour when the Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Mohammad Sagar said there was no provision for issuing Dogra Certificate by the Government. Yet before they walked out of the House, they had successfully brought the dissension within the coalition to the fore on this account.
The House also witnessed verbal clash between the Minister and agitating Opposition members with former accusing them of dividing Jammu and Kashmir on "religion" and "region" lines.
It all began when Balwant Singh Mankotia, JKNPP MLA from Udhampur pleaded, "Army has provided some relaxation to youth of Jammu region having Dogra certificate. Earlier, Dogra certificate was issued to the youth of Jammu. Despite the previous government's assurance, the certificates are not being issued to the youth and they have been facing problems to get reservation in Army and other recruitments."
The Speaker asked, "If there is any rule under which Dogra certificate is issued to youth of Jammu region."
He, however, asked the Minister for Law and Parliamentary, Ali Mohammad Sagar to respond to the concern of the Opposition members.
Sagar said, "Mujhe Afsos Hai Ki Yeh Members Aise Hi Agitate Kar Rahe Hai Jab Ki Koi Issue Hi Nahi Hai. Inho Ne Shayad Jawab Nahi Pada Hai (It is unfortunate that the members have been agitating on an issueless topic). The government has made no assurance and commitment and you can check the records."
Soon after the Sagar's remarks, the legislators of BJP, JKNPP and JSM got infuriated and moved towards the front row.
Sagar remarked, "Aap Aag Mat Lagayiye. Yaha Bahut Hai Aag Lagane Wale….. (Don't put the State on fire. There are several people who are also hell bent to put the State on fire)."
Mankotia retorted, "Kaun Se Aag Lag Rahi Hai Agar Aap Jammu Ke Naujawano Ko Dogra Certificate De Denge………….."
It led to exchange of heated arguments between the Minister and agitating members of the Opposition.
Sagar said, "There was no provision for issuing Dogra Certificate by the Government. The Government would check the records about the assurances given by the previous Government in the House in this regard. The Army does not provide any relaxation in the prescribed height standards for recruitment from any particular community in the State as they have a uniform physical standard for recruitment in the State."
Mankotia shouted, "He is misleading the House…….."
Quoting the report of the Revenue Department, he reiterated, "There is no such proposal and no such assurance has been made by the government in the House. Aap Kaya Aag Lagana Chahte Hai…….. They should justify their issue and every time they made slogans that the government has made commitment."
Intervening Harsh Dev Singh said, "I have the record of the Assembly proceedings during the previous government tenure. I had sought a copy of this assurance from the department and I can proof this that the Congress Party had made the assurance on the floor of the House. As the Dogras are known for their bravery, this certificate was issued to Dogra youth in past so that they easily get job in Army. Assurance is still intact and the Congress party had made commitment in this regard."
The Minister further denied the pleas of the agitating members and said, "No such assurance was made on the floor of the House."
Mankotia said, "Yeh Dogra region Hai Iski Wajah Se Aap Yaha Par Hai……….."
The Speaker intervened and asked the Minister, "The Government should consider the demand of the members and if there is any reservation for Dogra youth in Army, the government should think over it. There is no harm in it."
What was embarrassing for Sagar when his colleague in the cabinet, Sham Lal Sharma stood up from his seat and said, "Though I represent the Government as a Minister, being a representative of Congress party as they have made the reference of the Congress Party, the previous government had assured the House vis-à-vis issuance of Dogra Certificate. It was assured that the certificate to Dogra youth could be issued on the pattern of neighbouring State. I appeal to the government to consider the demand of the MLAs."
One of the Opposition MLA remarked, "Aapke Difference Samne Aa Gaye hai (Your difference have come to fore)."
The Minister retorted, "There are no differences in coalition partners. When you address the public issues don't divide the State on religion and region lines. Yeh Mat Kaha Karo Ke Jammu Ke Thekedar Hum Hi Hai………………"
While the Opposition members continued to create noisy scenes, the Speaker said, "Aab Kaya Reh Gaya Hai. Yeh Keh Rahe Hai Ki Legislation Layege. Wait for next session."
Shouting slogans against the government, Ashok Khajuria said, "Jammu region Ka Matlab Dogra Region Hai (Jammu region means Dogra region)."
Later, all the legislators of the BJP, JKNPP and JSM staged a walkout from the House.
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