Speaker suspends Harsh Dev for whole session
By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party MLA and former minister Harsh Dev Singh was today suspended by the Speaker Legislative Assembly Tara Chand for alleged mis-behaviour with Minister for Rural Development and Cong MLA Reasi Jugal Kishore Sharma here.
The Panthers Party MLAs Balwant Singh Mankotia, Faqir Nath and Yashpal Kundal boycotted the proceedings of the house in protest against the decision of the Speaker.
They rushed to the well of the House demanding revocation of the decision and demanded that allegations of Harsh Dev should be probed into and Health Minister should tender an apology for making disparaging remarks against Harsh’ father.
As soon as House assembled after the adjournment, this afternoon, RDD Minister Jugal Kishore alleged that JKNPP MLA Harsh Dev Singh has threatened to kill him. Harsh Dev Singh retorted by saying that he has called Jugal Kishore a murderer and not threatened to kill him.
Earlier Harsh and Jugal Kishore almost came to blows in Assembly lawns at Rajgarh Complex over the issue of death of an RDD employee, who was suspended by RDD Minister on verbal complaint.
Harsh Dev Singh alleged that Bishambar Singh Manhas, senior assistant in RD department died after he was not reinstated by the Minister after six months even though an inquiry committee has exonerated him of all the charges.
Singh alleged that during his visit to the family of deceased Bishambar Singh, he was told that the deceased was suspended when he raised the issue of ‘extortion’ of money by the relative of a local legislator during a visit of the minister to Kalakote area.
Bishambar Singh is reported to have been suspended on spot when the relative of local legislator told the minister about his reluctance to host part of his rally in the area.
Harsh further alleged that though Bishambar was cleared of all the charges by a committee on March 15, 2007, Minister did not reinstate him for his insubordination.
The suspension of the lone bread earner of the family brought miseries to the dependents and the daughter of deceased was forced to leave her studies in Medical midway.
Bishambar is reported to have represented to the Minister RDD many a times for reinstatement and ultimately, he sought an appointment with the minister in the month of August which was accorded reluctantly on August 6 last.
Bishambar is reported to have been told by the Minister Jugal Kishore to wait for two years for reinstatement. Unable to bear the humiliation and shocking reply by the Minister Bishambar is reported to have suffered a heart attack on the same day and died.
These allegations were leveled by the JKNPP member when he was standing with the minister and some other colleagues in the assembly lawn. Enraged by the allegations of Harsh Dev Singh, Jugal Kishore also retorted leading to a fiery exchange of words between the two.
A number of people including some MLAs assembled on the occasion and separated them before they could have entered a physical dual.
As the House assembled after adjournment, Jugal Kishore raised a ‘point of information’ alleging that Harsh Dev Singh has threatened to ‘murder’ him and action should be taken against him (Harsh).
Harsh Dev Singh clarified that he had called him ‘murderer’ of Bishambar Singh and not threatened him in any means.
At this point Health Minister Pt. Mangat Ram Sharma joined the issue and said that Harsh Dev has confided to him a few days back that he would kill Minister of RDD Jugal Kishore Sharma.
While responding to Pandit’s allegation Harsh Dev said that he (Mangat Ram) has threatened to kill Panther Party MLAs.
Sharma again stood up on his chair and asked Speaker to permit him to move a motion for suspension of JKNPP MLA Harsh Dev Singh, which was accepted by the Speaker ordering suspension of Harsh Dev Singh for the whole session.
Harsh Dev protested the move alleging it as murder of democracy and shame on government, to which Health Minister termed it as shame of Harsh’s father.
The disparaging remark of the Health Minister against the father of fellow MLA irked the Panther Party MLAs who rushed to the well protesting against the use of unparliamentary language by senior Congress leader.
They later staged a walk out from the Assembly and did not participate in the proceedings on Khundru depot blasts
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party president Balwant Singh Mankotia later told News Agency of Kashmir whole incident depicts failure of Congress led coalition government in the state.
He said that government to suppress the democratic aspirations of the people of state and high rate of corruption among its Ministers, lack of accountability, failure to provide good governance to the people was taking to undemocratic and uncivilized tactics.