Fierce Uproar in J&K Assembly as BJP Slams Govt Over LPG Scheme

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which is holding its autumn session here, witnessed noisy scenes and a verbal clash on Thursday between the Treasury benches and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the government announced that it had approved a scheme to provide six free LPG cylinders annually to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families.

“I want to inform the House that the scheme to provide six free gas cylinders has received the approval of the competent authority. Details will be shared shortly,” Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma announced. Members of the ruling National Conference (NC) welcomed the announcement by thumping their desks, while BJP members rose to criticise the Omar Abdullah government for taking almost two years to only partly fulfil its election promise.

BJP MLA and Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma accused the government of being jhoothi (dishonest) and described its decision as a dhokha (betrayal) of the people who voted the NC to power in 2024. The Antyodaya Anna Yojana is intended for the poorest families.

He reminded the government that it had promised 12 LPG cylinders and 200 units of free electricity to every household. He said the government had now restricted the benefit to AAY families and halved the number of LPG cylinders. “Where are the 24 LPG cylinders that you should already have provided to the people? Where are the 200 units of free electricity? You are liars; you have deceived the people. How long will this continue?” he shouted as NC members tried to drown him out.

The BJP leader also questioned the government about its promise to create one lakh jobs and reiterated that poor people had been betrayed.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather tried to restore order in the House but was unable to persuade the members to resume their seats. As BJP members continued raising slogans and heated exchanges broke out between the two sides, proceedings remained disrupted for some time. Order was later restored, and the House took up the remaining business of the day. Earlier, the House witnessed an uproar during Zero Hour over the issue of Scheduled Tribe-2 reservations.

Former minister and J&K Peoples Conference MLA Sajad Lone raised serious concerns in the House about the powers and privileges of elected representatives in the Union Territory. He sought clarity on the constitutional status of MLAs under the UT framework and said, “Today, we are MLAs in a Union Territory. My question is for you, sir, and no one else- What are our rights? Do we have any privileges?” he asked.

At the heart of his grievance was the alleged diversion of constituency development funds and the sidelining of elected MLAs in favour of ministers from the ruling party. Lone questioned whether an MLA’s recommendations for development works carried any institutional authority. “If I, as the MLA representing Handwara, submit a list of works that need to be undertaken, does the authority to recommend them rest with me or with the minister?” he asked, urging the Speaker to clarify the matter.

Lone warned that opposition MLAs were fully prepared to raise the issue with the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister. He asked whether public funds allocated to J&K were intended for the people or for the benefit of a particular political party.

He further said that opposition members from Kashmir had consciously exercised restraint in their public statements because they were aware that their words could be misinterpreted or used against the broader demand for the restoration of statehood. “We are sitting quietly so that the things we say are not used against us elsewhere,” he said.

Invoking the Assembly’s seven-decade legacy, Lone made an impassioned appeal to the Speaker to uphold the institution’s dignity and sanctity. Referring to veteran legislators of earlier eras, he argued that no ministerial appointment—including what he called an “accidental” one—could override the authority vested in the House and its elected members. “For God’s sake, tell these accidental ministers the truth. This money does not belong to them. It comes from the government. The people who contested elections and swore by an Act and the Constitution hold that authority—not these ministers,” Lone said, asserting that the opposition would not accept being sidelined. “If they think they can walk over us, that is out of the question.”

Lone asked the Speaker what institutional remedy was available to MLAs in the event of a breach of privilege. “Apart from that, there are only two options- we take to the streets, or we approach the Centre and write to the LG—which we do not do. Our sanctity lies here,” he said.

The House later during the day adopted a resolution seeking an amendment to the Right to Education Act to exempt teachers appointed before October 31, 2019, from taking the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET). Education and Health Minister Sakina Itoo moved the resolution on Tuesday, urging the Union Government to amend Section 23 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, to grant the exemption.

The resolution says that the House unanimously urges the Union Government to make the necessary statutory amendment to Section 23 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, to exempt all teachers appointed before October 31, 2019, from appearing in the TET.” It also asks the Central Government to take the required legal steps and have the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) issue the necessary notification. “Teachers are respected by all, they have dedicated their lives to give education to our children and asking them to appear in TET would be insulting to them and the sincerity with which they discharge their duties,” Itoo said.

The House also defeated a Private Members’ Bill moved by J&K Awami Itihad Party member Sheikh Khursheed Ahmed that sought to make enrolment in government schools mandatory for the children of public representatives and government employees. The Bill proposed compulsory enrolment in government schools for the children of “public men and public servants.”

But the government opposed the Bill. Itoo said that, although she respected the proposal’s intent, mandatory enrolment was not feasible. She said infrastructure in government schools was being upgraded, while acknowledging that some institutions still needed improvement. The remaining schools, she added, would be upgraded in due course.

The minister argued that children have a fundamental right to choose their educational institution and cited NEET qualifiers from government schools as evidence of improving outcomes. She urged Ahmed to withdraw the Bill, saying the focus should be on building public confidence in government schools rather than compelling enrolment.

However, the MLA pressed for the Bill, arguing that infrastructure improvements alone would not strengthen government schools. He said increasing enrolment was equally important and urged policymakers to examine the issue seriously. He maintained that the children of ministers, MLAs, and government employees should also attend government schools.