SRINAGAR: The 10-day autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, beginning on September 21, is likely to witness sharp exchanges between the government and opposition over unemployment, job outsourcing, reservations, regularisation of daily wagers and unfulfilled electoral promises.
The BJP, the principal opposition party in the Assembly, has accused the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government of failing to deliver on key commitments and said it would raise issues concerning the public during the session.
BJP spokesperson Altaf Thakur alleged that corruption was continuing and raised concerns over what he termed an “outsourcing scam”. He also questioned the delay in holding elections to Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies.
Thakur said BJP legislators would also press the government on promises made during the 2024 Assembly elections, including the commitment to provide 200 units of free electricity. He alleged that development works had slowed after the elections.
PDP MLA from Pulwama Waheed Para said his party would raise unemployment, outsourcing, the reservation policy and the regularisation of daily wagers in government service.
Para said the limited duration of the session meant that the party would seek to raise as many public issues as possible, including the National Conference’s electoral commitments on governance and political matters.
The ruling National Conference said it would use the session to present its record and respond to issues raised by the opposition.
NC spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar said public concerns remained the government’s priority and maintained that the administration was working towards fulfilling its electoral promises.
“We do not claim that we have done everything, but we certainly are on the way to fulfil them,” Dar said.
He urged the opposition to play a responsible role in the House, saying parliamentary democracy requires the opposition to raise public issues and the government to respond.
According to the provisional calendar issued by Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, the session will open on September 21 with obituary references, followed by government business on September 22.
Private members’ bills are scheduled for September 24, while private members’ resolutions will be taken up on September 25. The House will consider private members’ bills again on September 28, followed by government business on September 29 and 30.
