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| Opposition minus PDP creates ruckus over farmers' plight | | 'Central team to assess farmers' losses in J&K on April 7' | |
ARTEEV SHARMA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Apr 5: Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the State Legislative Assembly when the Opposition minus Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cornered the ruling coalition for its alleged non-seriousness over the problems being faced by the farming community to "drought" like conditions in the region.
As soon as the House assembled this morning, all the legislators of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and Jammu State Morcha (JSM) were on their feet and demanded immediate assessment of crop losses to the farmers of Jammu region.
"The farmers of Jammu region have suffered huge loss to their crops due to drought conditions prevailing for the last couple of years. The government should immediate constitute a team to assess the loss and conduct the special Girdwari so that the affected farmers are paid suitable compensation," the agitating members shouted.
Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir said, "Rabi crops have got damaged due to scanty rainfall and I want to assure the members that the government is also concerned about the plight of the farmers. We will assess the losses suffered by the farmers and they would be compensated thereafter accordingly."
"As far as Special Girdwari is concerned, we will approach the State Revenue Department," Mir maintained.
Even after the Minister's assurance, the Opposition members continued to create noisy scenes demanding immediate assessment of losses and Special 'Girdwari' in Jammu region.
Chaman Lal Gupta, Leader of BJP Legislature Party said, "This is not for the first time that the farmers have been facing drought like situation. Earlier, the government had assured that the farmers would be provided with three months free ration but they have not been given this relief so far. As the farmers have suffered complete losses to their crops the government should make appropriate statement to give a relief to the affected people."
He, however, warned that the Opposition would not allow the House to conduct smooth business until the government assures for action plan in this regard.
The BJP leader's warning brought the Speaker's ire who remarked, "Don't say like this that we will not allow the House to conduct the Business. Democracy Main Yeh Shabdh (word) Hai Hi Nahi. Yeh Aachi Baat Nahi Hai……"
Intervening, Harsh Dev Singh, Leader of Panthers Legislature Party took a dig at the Minister for the Agriculture and said, "He has passed the buck on the Revenue Minister. The Opposition members are demanding not only categorical assurance but also its implementation on ground. The situation is alarming and if this House does not extend a helping hand it would only leads to disappointment for already dejected farmers."
Another JKNPP member, Balwant Singh Mankotia shouted, "Yaha Awam Pareshan Hai Aur Aap Log……………….."
Though the Speaker tried to pacify the agitating members of Opposition parties, yet the uproar prevailed in the House.
The Speaker said, "Question Hour Kharab Ho Raha Hai. I will not go by your dictates. I will take up your issue after the question hour. If you have supported me to run the House smoothly during this session, this is the last day and let the House to conduct its business."
It was only after the Speaker's assurance that the Minister for Revenue, Raman Bhalla would make a suitable statement the infuriated members took their respective seats. The House proceedings remained disrupted for 12 minutes.
Expressing concern over problems being faced by the farmers, Bhalla said, "The department has already launched Girdwari from April 1, in the region, besides a Central team is also visiting Jammu and Kashmir to assess the losses occurred to the farmers."
When the agitating members continued to create ruckus in the House, the Speaker assured, "As the Central team is arriving here, it would assess the losses and if you have any grievances all the members would meet in my office chamber on April 10."
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