Riyaz Ul Khaliq
SRINAGAR
Lower House of the J&K Assembly Tuesday witnessed instant squabbling between NC lawmakers and Engineer Rasheed after the later reacted to NC veteran’s speech on budget. He interrupted saying Mohammad Shafi Uri is supposed to talk on budget but he is “speaking on something different”.
This triggered heated arguments between former speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone and Rasheed.
With Deputy Speaker Nazir Gurezi in chair, Lone accused engineer of being an “IB man”. In retaliation, Engineer shouted: “You know it because you are part of them!”
As the two lawmakers shouted at each other, it led to intervention by the Deputy Speaker who repeatedly accused Engineer of “being a nuisance.”
NC veteran Mohammad Shafi Uri spoke for more than half an hour on the budget. But for most of the time he was speaking on the historical genesis of Kashmir issue and the special status that it lost. He said the frequent accusations that Sheikh Abdullah signed the instrument of accession are incorrect.
“Sachayee Chup nai Sakti Banawat Kay Usoolun Say – Ki Khusboo Aa nayee Sakti Kaagaz Kay Phoolun Say,” Uri said referring to the J&K Budget presented in assembly on Monday.
Uri said that the budget “lacks economic” survey which could have given an idea about the successes and failures of government. “Further,” he said, “I myself have been FinMin once and presented budget as well but this budget lacks vision.”
He accused PDP-BJP government of “not giving ample time” to Opposition to “analyse the budget”. “It appeared that you intended not give us a chance to discuss it,” Uri said addressing Treasury Benches. “But yes, there are good things as well. Dr Drabu has taken steps to rationalize the governance structure of J&K which is laudable.”
Earlier, the Upper house of state legislature was Tuesday adjourned after lawmakers took strong exception of independent legislature, Er Rasheed, for his “Ali Baba 40 Choor” Comment.
The Langate lawmaker, Sheikh Abdul Rasheed, in the lower house had accused government as well as NC and Congress parties of “rehabilitating people in useless upper house”.
Jammu and Kashmir has two houses in state legislature. 86 lawmakers are elected through voting across J&K while 32 members are elected to Legislative Council – the upper house –
