BJP, Treasury Benches Clash As J&K Assembly Session Opens
Protests, sloganeering and disruptions mark the opening day of the Autumn Session.
The opening day of the Autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed noisy scenes, repeated interruptions and sharp exchanges between the opposition BJP and the ruling National Conference-led government, with both sides raising competing political and public issues on the floor of the House.
Soon after the Assembly convened, BJP legislators trooped into the well of the House and staged a vociferous protest against what they described as the Omar Abdullah government's failure to address several pressing concerns affecting the people of J&K.
Waving placards and raising slogans, BJP members highlighted the plight of National Health Mission (NHM) employees, the recent increase in electricity tariffs and the long-pending demand for regularisation of daily-wage workers.
The protesters carried posters demanding justice for NHM employees, rollback of the power tariff hike and immediate steps to regularise daily-rated workers. They accused the government of neglecting the concerns of thousands of employees and workers and failing to fulfil its promises.
The BJP said employment, outsourcing of government jobs, electricity charges and workers' welfare would be among the key issues it would raise during the session.
As BJP members continued their protest, legislators from the treasury benches, along with their allies in the Congress and CPI(M), staged a counter-demonstration. They raised slogans demanding restoration of statehood to J&K and criticised the Central Government over what they described as the denial of democratic and constitutional rights to the people of the Union Territory.
The competing protests turned the Assembly into a noisy battleground, with both sides attempting to dominate proceedings through slogans and placards.
Amid the uproar, BJP legislators repeatedly chanted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and accused the Omar Abdullah government of poor governance. They also raised slogans criticising the government over electricity and water supply.
The disruptions intensified, prompting Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to repeatedly appeal to members to return to their seats. At one point, he directed that statements and slogans raised by protesting BJP members should neither form part of the official record nor be reported.
As BJP legislators continued their protest despite the Speaker's appeals, Rather asked the treasury benches to disregard the demonstrations and allow the listed business to continue. Question Hour subsequently proceeded amid persistent interruptions and sloganeering from the opposition benches.
Earlier, the Assembly had assembled to pay obituary references to three former ministers before commencing legislative business. Proceedings were soon overshadowed by a heated exchange over the outsourcing of government jobs.
During Question Hour, BJP members accused the Omar Abdullah-led government of facilitating outsourcing at the expense of local unemployed youth and failing to fulfil its electoral commitments on employment generation.
Through a starred question, BJP legislators sought details on the number of government posts outsourced, the agencies engaged for such arrangements and the criteria adopted for outsourcing. They alleged that opportunities meant for local job seekers were being diverted through contractual and outsourced mechanisms.
The issue triggered further protests from the opposition benches as members of the ruling alliance prepared to respond.
Amid the pandemonium, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary accused the BJP of deliberately disrupting proceedings for political gain. He said the government was ready to answer questions relating to public issues and governance, but alleged that the opposition was more interested in creating disturbances than engaging in debate.
Choudhary said the people of J&K were watching the conduct of all political parties and would judge their performance.
The BJP has indicated that it will also raise issues including alleged corruption, delays in holding Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections, unemployment, outsourcing of jobs and the increase in electricity tariffs during the session.
After repeated disruptions and exchanges, the House was eventually adjourned for the day. The J&K Assembly is scheduled to reconvene on Tuesday morning, with legislative business and discussions on governance, employment, public services and other issues expected to continue.