Riyaz ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ms Mehbooba Mufti was on Monday suggested to initiate a “process of dialogue” with those “who are angry”.
On June 21, 2016, the Lower House of the J&K Legislature was a busy day discussing grants to departments which come under Chief Minister.
The on-going 2016-17 Budget Session is discussing grants allotted to various departments. Today, grants allocated to Home, GAD, Estates, Hospitality and Protocol, Public Information Department and Tourism were discussed.
CM, who was “not feeling well” entered the Lower House around 3:15 PM. Minister Ab Haq Khan informed the house early in the day after Zero Hour that he was listing suggestions and comments on CM’s behalf.
The house was run by deputy speaker, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi, as Speaker Kavinder Gupta was not present today. BJP Lawmaker Sukhnandan Kumar, intermittently, presided over the house in Gurezi’s absence.
Participating in the debate, National Conference five-time Lawmaker, Ali Mohammad Sagar, told the house that “no world power can change the status of J&K” but “let Lawmakers be taken into confidence”.
“Besides our constituencies,” he told the house addressing the CM, “Lawmakers have a broader representative character which needs to be exploited.”
He said former CM, late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, would pitch for greater role of MLAs and “this was the best time that CM Ms Mehbooba Mufti takes it up”.
“You take an initiative of engaging Hurriyat and those who are angry with,” Sagar told the CM, “It will be an honour to you and to your chair.”
Sagar detailed as how “Dr Farooq took first in this regard hen no one was round in 1996”.
Sagar supported his argument saying that Hizbul Mujahideen talked to GoI in 2000 and in subsequent years Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik, Prof Abdul Gani Bhat and Bilal Gani Lone too held parleys with LK Advani and others.
“Dialogue is the only solution to this grave problem,” he asserted.
Observing that on the issue of talks with separatists and militants, right wing BJP rakes up the issue, Sagar told the house, “it is not an issue of politics but as how to save humanity. He quoted BJP ideologue and Ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ‘Insaaniyat Kay Daayray Mein’ slogan for this comment.
Sagar believed that this step needs to be taken “politics say hut kar”. “This will be remarkable,” he said.
Speaking, at length, for first time in the current assembly session, NC’s youth Lawmaker representing Budgam segment, Syed Agha Ruhulla took on CM for her “U-Turns”.
Ruhulla spoke in this first session of today’s business when Ms Mehbooba was not present.
He charged Ms Mehbooba Mufti of “letting down expectations of masses”.
“Where are those tears now? What about AFSPA revocation?” he said while addressing Treasury benches. However, only Minister Ab Haq Khan was present amongst ministers besides the ruling government MLAs.
“The drama which Ms Mufti and her party colleagues enacted till 2014 was only for chair,” Ruhulla alleged.
“If Handwara episode would have happened during National Conference led government tou halaat kharaab kartay,” he said, “from Delhi to Srinagar, Ms Mehbooba would have created issues innumerable.”
He asked Ms Mehbooba Mufti how are “forces sacred Now”. “Aaaj Mehbooba Ji forces pay ungli nai uthaatay?
“We will ask same question on Handwara episode and she will have to answer,” he said, “check pages of history not so old but during last government as how Ms Mufti acted.”
He ridiculed Ms Mufti of “selling the honour of the august house.” “She wasted three months and raised expectations of people but ended up selling every her sinle promise against the chair,” her alleged, “whatever she did in last six years (during Omar Abdullah led government), it was for the sake of chair.”
Alleging that every decision is being taken by Union Government viz-a-viz J&K, Ruhulla said, “Ms Mufti government even can’t decide whether to post JKP or CRPF inside NIT.”
National Institute of Technology after India lost to West Indies in March 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final. After Kashmiris and non-state subjects fought each other, Union Home Minister ordered installation of para-military CRPF inside the NIT Hazratbal campus.
“Ms Mufti has degraded the honour of J&K Police,” he said. “You have totally surrendered before BJP led Union government.”
Castigating the PDP-BJP government for what he said “selling identity of Kashmir to right wing BJP”. “She is helpless and have degraded this august house.”
On the issue of return of power projects, he said, “there is a simple modality which PDP is following: Decisions yours (Delhi), Chair ours.”
“You showed us dreams but failed by taking over as CM without any announcement by Delhi,” he added, “Omar Abdullah was silently working on AFSPA and then Home Minister, P Chidambaram was on board.”
Ruhulla charged Ms Mufti of “not supporting then state government”. “That was the closest ever situation a CM would work on AFSPA.”
Ruhulla’s comments didn’t go well with PDP ally BJP.
BJP’s state chief, Chartered Accountant turned Lawmaker Sat Paul Sharma intervened stopping Ruhulla. “He is a good speaker but it is not business house is supposed to discuss,” he told the deputy speaker. “Ruhulla Ji is supposed to talk on grants to departments under CM and content of his speech doesn’t signify that.”
Gurezi responded, “He is speaking on the grants which come under CM.”
On his part, Ruhulla who took got a break from his impeccable Urdu speech, told the house, “I can understand it; he (Sat Paul Sharma) is a new MLA and it is no issue.”
Ruhulla said that his party tried repeatedly “to show mirror to PDP but of no use”. “Because PDP has worn saffron dress,” he said.
At this point of time, BJP’s Ravinder Raina, who intermittently stopped his party Lawmakers from reacting to Ruhulla’s speech, responded himself and told NC’s Budgam Lawmaker: “Deputy Speaker is with us today; he too is wearing saffron dress.” This invited laughter from the house as well as Gurezi himself.
“Lagta hai aap ko mirchi laggi; araam say betho,” NC Veteran replied to Raina.
As Namaz time was five minutes away, Peoples Conference (PC) led by Minister Sajad Gani Lone Lawmaker, Bashir Ahmad Dar stood and asked Gurezi he be allowed to speak after business resumes at 2 PM.
He sat in his chair not before responding to Ruhulla, “If same old way was adopted to deal with Handwara situation, then the number of dead would have piled not up to 125 but 130.”
Dar referred to 2010 situation and Omar Abdullah led government’s response.
While Dar was speaking and Ruhulla was listening, it was already 12:55 PM and Deputy Speaker was on fire.
Addressing Ab Haq Khan, he said, “Government is not taking this house seriously.” “this is what I think (too),” PC’s Dar replied and sat down.
“Where are your ministers/members,” Gurezi asked Khan”I am asking you because your Parliamentary Affairs Minister is not here. We are discussing grants to CM’s departments.”
The effect of Gurezi’s taunt was seen in the second session when almost all the cabinet members but Chandra Prakash Ganga entered Lower House, one by one.
During his discussion on grants, NC’s Eidgah Lawmaker, Mubarak Gul asked Ms Mehbooba Mufti to work on the idea of Hurriyat Conference (m) chief regarding return of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs).
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq recently said that a three member civil society committee will meet representatives of KPs to seek their honourable return.
Pushing the demand of Kashmir based Lawmakers that “bullet proof” vehicles be allotted to them, Gul alleged that PDP-BJP government was not serious about the safety of legislators.
“Uncertainty has increased in Kashmir and grenade attacks have been taking place across valley,” he said.
Leaving his government red faced, right wing BJP’s Kathua Lawmaker, Rajiv Jasrotia said, “succumbing to pressure of separatists to allow them hold an anti-India seminar meant that we are increasing their appetite.”
Sagar told the deputy speaker that he will not head any committee to decide the salary of Lawmakers. “How is it possible that an MLA will decide his/her own salary and perks?”
“You are humiliating the MLAs,” Sagar told the treasury benches which were full. “It is our demand that salaries be hiked but this step needs to be taken by Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Cabinet has to approve it.”
Sagar suggested government to “check the precedence”. “It is not first time that salary will or will not be hiked. But there is history that it is done by cabinet,” he added.
Meanwhile, an official spokesperson said that Government will look into CDF, salary hike of legislators.
Minister for Rural Development, Law and Justice Abdul Haq assured the house that Government will look into the enhancement of salary to legislators and their PROs, besides increase of Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
The Minister response came after Chairman of House Committee constituted to look into the hike in salaries of legislators and their PROs, Mr Ali Mohammed Sagar relieved himself of the post with the suggestion that the matter should be decided by the Government only and not by Legislators.
Deputy Speaker, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi earlier asked directed the Chairman of House Committee constituted to look into the enhancement of salaries of Legislators and their PROs, to present its recommendations during the current session.
Interestingly, one of the Lawmakers invoked social networking site to describe beauty of Marwah, Kishtwar. He was discussing grants to tourism department.
“I checked Facebook yesterday and I could not believe my eyes when I saw how beautiful Marwah is,” PDP’s Kokernag Lawmaker, Ab Rahim Rather told the house.
Responding to accusations of National Conference Budgam Lawmaker, Rather reminded Agha Ruhulla as “how Omar Abdullah changed statements after statements on AFPS revocation”.
“But the commitments made by our leader will be implemented on ground,” Rather told Ruhulla.
Asking CM Ms Mehbooba Mufti to increase the amount given to legislators under CDF, Inderwal Lawmaker, G M Saroori told the house “as how price of Dal increased to Rs 200 a KG but there was no increase in CDF amount.”
On this, Gurezi asked Saroori to explain “the relation between Dal and CDF” which invited laughter from the house and the all the galleries.
While all this was happening, PDP’s MLA Karnah was seen walking up to CM. he handed over a slip to Ms Mufti followed by another assembly official with another slip.
Interestingly, deputy speaker Gurezi was seen calling his guard who stood behind him on his left. But the guard was apparently sleeping because he remained unmoved! Sensing the situation, an official who stood near CM rushed to Gurezi and followed the orders.
Youngest PDP Lawmaker from Rafiabad, Yawar Mir asked CM to review the rehabilitation policy for militants. He also detailed as how GAD – brain of government – was facing “some crucial lacunas”. He sought delegation of powers to district level so that “PaK returned don’t face problems”.
On one point, when Yawar was speaking and wanted attention of chair – Gurezi was putting on head phones – he yelled, “deputy speaker Sir, listen to me.” “I am listening,” Gurezi replied.
“Ok! But what did I say,” Yawar asked Gurezi inviting laughter from the house. “It is not necessary that I listen to each and every thing as officials are on job to note comments of legislators,” Gurezi told Yawar, however, acceding that this time he was “caught”.
Sarpanch turned MLA Wachi, Advocate Aijaz Ahmad Mir suggested government to start its own newspaper. “Why should it not be done,” he told the house, “government will do and publicise its work done on governmental front.”
He believes it will be “easy for those as well who give advertisements”.
