SRINAGAR: Hours after Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti linked her party’s support in the Rajya Sabha polls to the backing of private member bills in the Assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday that the Speaker of Jammu Kashmir has the authority to decide on such bills. However, he added that his party would not become a hurdle in the passage of any pro-people legislation.
Addressing a news conference in Jammu, Omar said that while the Speaker has the powers to decide on the introduction of bills in the House, his party would not obstruct any bill that benefits the public.
“I wouldn’t comment on a bill that has not yet been introduced in the House. Before a bill becomes the property of the House, it is the Speaker’s property. The Speaker decides which bills are brought before the House. Many bills are submitted, but which ones are accepted and listed through a draw of lots is not decided by either Omar Abdullah or Mehbooba Mufti. Let the bill come before the House-if it is pro-people, we will have no objection to supporting it. We will not become a hurdle,” Omar said.
He further said that they are open to considering any bill introduced in the Assembly. “I wouldn’t interfere with the powers of the Speaker. I want to make it clear that if any bill comes before the House, we will not dismiss it outright-we will give it due consideration,” he added.
