Jammu, Apr 1: Opposition National Conference Wednesday accused the state government of discriminating against the Kashmir Valley over the distribution of power sector funds.
The party legislators disrupted the proceedings of the Assembly, forcing the Speaker to marshal them out and adjourn the House for ten minutes.
As soon as the House started its business of the day, NC members created a ruckus in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over the release of funds for the repair of damaged transformers.
The government planning department yesterday released an amount of Rs 3.5 crore for the repair of damaged power transformers in the state, out of which Rs 2.5 crore was released for Jammu and Rs 1 crore for Kashmir Valley.
“Why this discrimination with the people of Kashmir who have suffered more due to the incessant rains and floods. The power infrastructure in Kashmir valley has suffered more damage because of the floods,” NC member Nazir Gurezi said.
The opposition members also tried to storm the Well of the House demanding a reply from the PDP-BJP government.
“We will not tolerate this discrimination with the people of Kashmir, we are not against Jammu but Kashmir must get a fair deal as well,” NC member Altaf Kaloo said.
Speaker Kavinder Gupta tried to control the situation by assuring the opposition members that he would let them take up the issue during the Zero Hour, however, the opposition continued with their protest.
Amid continuing ruckus, the Speaker ordered the opposition members to be marshaled out of the House while adjourning the proceedings for ten minutes.
“They have muzzled our voice by not allowing us to raise our voice within the Assembly. When we tried to raise the concern of the people they just pushed us out of the Assembly,” NC member Mubarak Gul told reporters outside the Assembly.
“We are not against Jammu region but want equal treatment for all the three regions of the state. While releasing the funds they should have known that Ladakh too has to be catered from within the funds released for Kashmir,” Gul said.
Accusing the PDP of being a “sellout” to BJP for the sake of power, the NC member said after the formation of the government PDP has forgotten the Kashmir Valley.
“They have forgotten the promises made to the people of Kashmir. This is a clear sellout to the BJP by PDP. They have sold the interests of the people of Kashmir for the sake of power,” NC MLA Nazir Gurezi said.
Defending the government’s actions, BJP member Ravinder Raina said, “Because of heavy rainfall, the transformers in Jammu have suffered huge damage and in the wake of upcoming summer season they need immediate repair. I don’t think there is any discrimination in this”.
“The opposition members should have allowed proper functioning of the House and taken up the issue without disrupting the proceedings,” he said.
Meanwhile, the marshals of the House held a protest in the central hall of the Assembly as they alleged that the Secretary of Assembly Mohammed Ramzan had used abusive language against them in the House. PTI