Riyaz ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
Unlike other days when Marshalls would force firebrand Langate Lawmaker, Er Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, out of Assembly for “raising public issues”, on Thursday Rasheed was calm on the issues concerning his people or that of Kashmir.
However, he criticised media for “not” highlighting public issues “after proper research”.
Participating in the debate over grants to Public Health Engineering, Rasheed talked about the rot in the functioning of Kashmir administration.
“I am being criticised for raising international issues here,” he told the house during his seven minutes uninterrupted speech. “But in my eight years being member of this house, none of my issues related to governance was resolved.”
Detailing as how ran from pillar to post to get former PHE minister, Sukhnandan Kumar, to visit his constituency, he claimed, “somehow I managed a meet with him (Sukhnandan Kumar) Baramulla last year but he had directed SP on duty not to allow me inside. “I had a fight with Police that day as minister didn’t want to meet me, and listen to issues concerning my constituency.”
Demanding constitution of a committee to investigate assets of bureaucrats of J&K, Rasheed told Speaker, Kavinder Gupta, “please take this issue with CM Ms Mehbooba Mufti and form a committee to dig wherefrom these officers acquire such huge properties.”
He said being an MLA he is “unable to buy a house but officers of J&K government have bought huge mansions”. “How come is it possible?” he asked the house, “let us investigate.”
Narrating an incident, Rasheed said, “I have been visiting secretariat for last years but I am told that there has been bungling in PHE Handwara division.” “Who has done it? Corruption and bungling is been done by your engineers and officers,” he alleged pointing towards official gallery. However, he added that J&K Government is being served by “some honest officers as well”.
“Where does the money go? It is white elephant,” he said.
“When an MLA raises an issue with officers to get things done, journalists report otherwise,” he alleged.
“Nobody listens to us; bureaucrats don’t even let us enter their offices,” he said, “and news reports come: Officer ko Daraya Damkaya Gaya.”
“Journalists are getting all privileges; media men are allotted residential quarters; media houses fight for advertisements,” he told the house. “Magar Jab MLA Baat karta Hai, To Aap Ko Mirchi Kyun Lagti Hai,” he asked media.
After this comment, Rasheed was stopped by deputy speaker, Nazir Ahmad Gurezi who was in chair in absence of Kavinder Gupta. “Rasheed sahab, if Arnab Goswami (Times Now Prime Time – 9 PM – Anchor) comes to know about your this comment, who shaam ko aap ki band bajaye ga,” Gurezi told Langate Lawmaker. “I don’t care,” Rasheed replied.
Yelling that he will not raise any issue concerning his constituency, Rasheed asked government, “clearly tell us what to do. If you don’t have money to solve public issues, tell us but don’t mislead people by your empty plans and policies.”
“You (government) are pushing us to militancy on every issue,” he told the house. “Kashmir is facing oppression in every way,” he said, “here is governance break down.”
No one can b branded as honest and sincere mr #mudassir Wani ,by wearing the traditional cloak all the time and sitting undressed in legislature , until thre is a substaiantial work done in terms of upliftment of underprivileged and downtrodden !
And he scores an absolute zero on that .