NC boycott, Panthers disrupt Governor Address
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : The annual budget session of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly started with boycott by opposition National Conference and uproar created by the former ruling alliance Panthers Party during the address of the governor Lt Gen (Rtd) SK Sinha, who addressed the joint session of the legislatures, here on Monday.
The legislators of opposition National Conference chose to boycott the governor’s address claiming that the government has kept a very short session this year to hide its failures.
Raising anti-government slogans, the NC members assembled outside the Assembly complex and staged a sit in.
The slogans went loader as the governor arrived in the secretariat complex and Marshals had to make a human chain to ensure smooth entry of the governor.
Led by opposition leader, Abdul Rahim Rather the NC members were shouting like, `Gali Sadi Sarkar Ko Ek Dhaka Aur Do’ and `Azad Teri Sarkar Main Bachay Bukhay Martay Hain’.
Rather, while talking to media men, castigated government for its alleged failures. “The state is in miserable condition and government has turned a blind eye towards the plights of common masses”, he said.
The NC leader was of the opinion that government has no moral right to continue as it has failed to keep up its promises made to the electorate. “Government has tried to play smart by cutting short the annual budget session as it was aware that its misdeeds would be highlighted by the NC at this crucial juncture when elections are approaching”, Rather added.
He said that government claims on development, transparency and good governance have fallen flat on ground and their is no visible change in the scenario of the state.
Rather said that National Conference would expose the hollow claims of Congress led government on development, transparency, good governance and corruption-free state.
The scene inside the common hall of the legislative assembly and council was not different. It was former alliance of coalition government, Panthers Party, which managed the show when governor started addressing the legislatures.
As the National Anthem ended, and governor Lt Gen (Rtd) SK Sinha came to the dice so as to address the members, former education minister and chief Whip Panthers Party Harsh Dev stood up and demand dismissal of government terming it as anti-people and anti-Jammu.
“Dismiss anti-people and criminal government” Harsh shouted. As he continued with his slogans and allegations, the assembly staff tried to stop him, which led to a minor scuffle.
However, Harsh was soon joined by his other four party colleagues, Bhim Singh, Faqir Nath, Balwant Singh Mankotia and Yashpal Kundal.
Governor tried to avoid the uproar crated by the members and continued with his speech.
Annoyed and agitated PP legislatures later staged a walkout to register their protest against, what they termed, `anti-people government’.
Harsh Dev Singh later told News Agency of Kashmir that his party handed over a copy of the demands in shape of memorandum to the Governor.
Referring the rejoinder, he said that government has deliberately floated Common Minimum Programme (CMP) by refusing to continue delimitation commission thus taking away the governor’s powers to constitute the same.
He said that panthers will leave no stone unturned to high light misdoings of the government and will expose this anti-people government during the ensuing budget session.
Jammu region has been subjected to most hostile discrimination in the matter of employment, allocation of funds, and in developmental process. “All tall talk of ending regional imbalances has ended in smoke with utter disregard and contempt being shown by the rulers to Jammu based issues”, he said further.
The Ministers, he said, have shown utter contempt and disregard for the institution of Legislature as most of the decisions taken inside the assembly are being disregarded and violated with impunity by the ministers.
“There is all round discontent and disenchantment against the government. The employees, the agriculturists, the contractual employees, daily wagers the trade unions are all a disappointed lot”.
Even the government, he said, has deliberately chosen to defy the supreme Court Orders regarding release of the illegally detained persons and relief to the Jammu migrants.