SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Saturday witnessed chaotic scenes as a heated exchange broke out between Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed ur Rehman Parra shortly after the Speaker opened the House for debate.
The confrontation escalated quickly, with Itoo accusing the PDP of being responsible for the current political and administrative situation in the Union Territory. “We have no power because there is no statehood due to your party,” she said, attributing the loss of statehood and the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 to the PDP’s past decisions.
Maintaining that governance challenges stem from earlier political developments, the minister said her government focuses on “action, not drama,” in an apparent criticism of opposition protests inside the House.
The exchange grew sharper when Itoo repeatedly invoked a controversial 2016 remark by former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, referring to the “milk and toffee” comment made during unrest following the killing of Burhan Wani. The remark, raised multiple times during her response, intensified the verbal duel.
Itoo also questioned Parra over alleged interests in cold storage facilities and accused him of being influenced by external forces. “We know who is pulling your strings,” she said amid noisy scenes in the Assembly.
Parra, responding during the uproar, targeted the government over education policy and infrastructure. His remarks were largely drowned out, but he was heard criticising the minister’s handling of the education portfolio.
Addressing the issue of school upgradations, Itoo said that around 842 institutions were upgraded prior to 2014 under the government led by Omar Abdullah, but subsequent changes in government stalled further progress. She also pointed out that no recruitment had taken place in the education sector since 2019.
A day earlier, National Conference legislator Tanvir Sadiq had criticised a land reforms proposal introduced by Parra, alleging it disproportionately favoured his Pulwama constituency while overlooking broader public interest.
Sadiq said the proposal was neither representative of the wider population nor inclusive of poorer sections. He reiterated that the National Conference would implement its manifesto commitments, including the provision of five marlas of land to homeless and landless families, stating that around five lakh such families had already been identified.
The repeated exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches led to disruptions, forcing proceedings to be marked by frequent interruptions.
