MLAs marshaled out of J&K Assembly over funds distribution issue

FILE: Kashmiri lawmakers attend a special session of the state legislative assembly in Srinagar on 7 July, 2008. (Source: Reuters)

Over half a dozen National Conference and independent MLAs were marshaled out of the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday morning after pandemonium prevailed in the House over the alleged inequitable distribution of funds for repair and maintenance of power infrastructure including damaged transformers in Jammu region and Kashmir Valley.

In protest against the marshaling out of the opposition legislators, other NC and Congress MLAs stood on their seats. As pandemonium continued, Speaker Kavinder Gupta adjourned the House for ten minutes.

The state government had on March 31, the last day of last financial year, released an additional fund if Rs 3.5 crore for repair and maintenance of power infrastructure including damaged transformers. Of this, the agitating legislators alleged that Rs 2.5 crore were released for Jammu province and only Rs one crore for Kashmir where damage was much more in view of the floods.

Significantly, power portfolio is with Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh who is a BJP legislator from Billawar.

Troubled erupted soon after the House assembled in the morning, with NC legislators led by Nazir Gurezi standing on the seats drawing Speaker’s attention towards “discrimination” in release of additional funds in power sector on last day of the financial year. As Speak did not pay heed to them, some of them came into the well.

Independent legislator Engineer Abdul Rashid too joined them alleging discrimination with the people of Kashmir.

As the agitating members entered the well, they were marshaled out.

This has been the second time in less than a week that NC legislators have been marshaled out of the House. Earlier, they were marshaled out on Friday after they trued to enter the well creating accusing state government of lying with then over the issue of transfer of NHPC hydel projects to the state.

Outside the house, Gurezi said that they will not allow government resort to discrimination in the allocation of funds. This is not their personal money, he added. “We are not against allocation if Rs 2.5 crore to Jammu, but the government should have allocated an equal amount to Kashmir also where people were facing floods,” he added.

BJP MLA from Nowshera, Ravinder Raina, justifued the allocation, saying that damage had been higher in Jammu region. Moreover, the revenue collected by power development department in Jammu region was higher than Kashmir valley.

Source:: Indian Express