Speaker defers 2 questions as PHE minister fails to satisfy House
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : Opposition members on Wednesday created ruckus in the state Legislative Assembly over the alleged discrimination with some of the constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir in the allocation of funds and schemes by Public Health and Engineering (PHE) department.
Repeated attempts by MoS PHE Romesh Sharma to satisfy opposition failed and opposition forced the Speaker to defer two questions for `unsatisfactory reply;,
In his written question, National Conference MLA Mir Saifullah had sought detailed information about the constituency wise breakup regarding the PHE schemes and allotment of funds.
However, Mir immediately stood to lodge his protest over the `incomplete’ information provided by the minister.
Waving the copy of the reply, he pointed out “discriminatory attitude of the government while allotting the funds for various PHE schemes”.
Referring to the Doru constituency Mir said that only Rs 75 thousand were allotted to this area which is being represented by the Congress MLA G A Mir.
Mir requested the chair to defer the question to seek a detailed discussion over the issue, as the government has not specifically divulged the funds allocated and scheme sanctioned for Rafi Abad constituency, which is being represented by the PHE Minister Dilawar Mir.
“Government has deliberately supplied incomplete information”, he alleged.
Joined by his other party members, Mir came into the Well of the House and resorted to slogan raising.
Uproar and commotion followed the protest by NC members and Mir threatened that he will not allow government to introduce budget if the demand was not conceded.
“Ruling alliance must know that the government exchequer is not any ones personnel property” Abdul Rehim Rather said adding, “It is an important issue and government is answerable to the House”.
Former education minister and MLA Ramnagar Harsh Dev singh interrupt and said if the members are demanding deferment of the question and discussion over the issue, let government come up with the constituency wise break up of all PHE schemes including the funding.
The uproar continued for more than fifteen minutes and finally speaker defered the question and asked the government to reply in detail.
Earlier a question was deferred by the Speaker, when Congress MLAs Raman Bhalla and Yogesh Sawhney expressed their resentment over the reply of the government.
Sawhney had asked the government as why daily wagers engaged by PHE department were being discriminated with as Rs.2500 per month was being paid to the workers in Kashmir division, while those in Jammu division were being paid only Rs.500.
Though the government refuted the claim made by the MLA, the two Congress MLAs alleged that the government has not supplied the detailed information as it was deliberately discriminating with the daily wagers of Jammu region.
Both the members created uproar in the House, which forced the speaker to defer the question.