The maiden Budget Session of the Mufti Mohd Sayeed-led alliance Government started on a ‘stormy’ note as the Opposition parties National Conference and Congress along with Independent MlA from langate Engineer Abdul Rashid disrupted the Governor’s address to the joint session of the legislature in the central hall of the State Assembly on Wednesday.
Ahead of the Governor’s joint address, Kavinder Gupta of the BJP was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the legislative Assembly. Even before the Speaker’s election, the lower House witnessed uproarious scenes as Congress legislator GM Saroori and few other Opposition members urged the Protem Speaker Mohd Shafi Uri to pass a unanimous resolution condemning statement of BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.
Swamy had earlier created a controversy by claiming that mosque is not a religious place and can be demolished any time. Rashid also created ruckus in the House after newly elected Speaker Kavinder Gupta credited the people of the State for the smooth conduct of the Assembly polls.
Rashid said the Chief Minister had credited the role of Hurriyat, militant outfits and people from across the border so either the Speaker is telling a lie or the Chief Minister himself is misleading the people. Meanwhile, the beautifully decorated central hall of the State Assembly later witnessed acrimonious scenes soon after the arrival of Governor NN Vohra.
While the Governor greeted the newly elected legislators of the 12th State Assembly, Independent legislator Engineer Abdul Rashid once again tried to disrupt the Governor’s address by raising slogans taunting the PDP members,” What happened to your Self-RuleIJ
Before legislators of National Conference and the Congress party disrupted the Governor’s address over the issue of delay in channelising flood relief, Rashid kept raising slogans exposing the hypocrisy of the PDP’s alliance partner, the BJP.
He said on one hand the Governor is saying his Government will facilitate and help initiate a sustained and meaningful dialogue with all internal stakeholders and on the other hand they are raising hue and cry over the release of Masarat Alam.
Rashid also provoked the BJP legislators demanding West Pakistani refugees should be dispatched to Pakistan. BJP MlA Ravinder Raina in response said those who love Pakistan should leave the State. He also raised slogans demanding return of mortal remains of Afzal Guru much to the chagrin of PDP legislators.
Unsparing National Conference leader and former Minister Ali Mohd Sagar also chipped in after he objected to the delayed response of the Union Government towards relief and rehabilitation package for the flood victims
Sagar was supported by Congress legislative Party (ClP) leader Nawang Rigzin Jora as they shared their concern over the fate of Rs44,000-crore flood relief package while the Governor was delivering the address.
“We had sent Rs44,000-crore proposal to the Centre after being duly approved by the Cabinet. The PM has offered help, flood relief to PoK in his address at the UN. But six months after the floods, nothing has been done so far for flood-relief. It is a cruel joke with the people,” Sagar said. Congress MlA from Bandipore and NC legislator from Gurez, Nazir Gurezi also tried to disrupt Governor’s address protesting against the removal of over 1,000 local skilled and unskilled youth from NHPC projects by HCC.
“Instead of providing jobs, the Government has disengaged over 1,000 local youth from NHPC project by HCC despite two-and-half years of contract period. Why only the locals were removed. We held protests to draw attention of the Governor,” Usman Majid told reporters after the Governor’s address.
leader of the Opposition Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister Mufti Mohd Sayeed, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, senior Cabinet Ministers, senior police and civil administration officers were present in the central hall to witness the joint session of the State legislature.