Debates on developmental issues were overshadowed by ‘disruptions’ on the security scenario in the just-concluded Budget session of the Legislative Assembly as only 16 per cent of the total questions relating to people’s issues were taken up for discussion during the sittings.
The situation can be gauged from the fact that 1,165 questions, 631 starred and 534 un-starred, were listed for discussion but only 187 were taken up during the session.
The issues, like deteriorating law and order situation, unabated killings on the border, alleged human rights violations and nationalism dominated problems confronting the common masses of the state.
On the concluding day of the session, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti admitted that the security scenario in the state was not good and development narrative had been replaced by law and order discourse.
Secretary of the Assembly MR Singh told Kashmir Post that 187 questions were taken up during question hours of the Lower House. He further said proceedings were adjourned twice due to disruption by the Opposition.
The session, which started on a stormy note on January 2 with the Opposition disrupting the Governor’s Address, ended on February 12 amid a heated debate on pro-Pakistan slogans raised by veteran National Conference (NC) MLA Mohammad Akbar Lone on the floor of the House.
Although hardcore Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have remained members of the Legislative Assembly, pro-Pakistan slogans were never raised in the House. “I worked as an MLA with Geelani in two terms but pro-Pakistan slogans were never heard in the august House. It is for the first time that pro-Pakistan slogans were raised by an MLA that too of a mainstream party,” said veteran parliamentary Chaman Lal Gupta.
On February 10, amid uproar over the Sunjuwan terror attack, Lone, who has served as Speaker of the House, stunned everybody by raising pro-Pakistan slogans to counter BJP members.
As incidents, like the Shopian firing, kidnapping and murder of a minor girl at Kathua, Sunjuwan and Karan Nagar terror attacks and killings on border took place during the session, the Opposition seized the opportunity to take on the government on the law and order situation.
According to the Assembly record, during the session, the House worked for 102 hours. Of this, NC members took 30 hours, followed by 23 hours by the ruling PDP, 18 hours by the BJP and 13 hours by the Congress. Other small groups took the remaining time.
Border shelling rocks House
The issues, like deteriorating law and order situation, unabated killings on the border, alleged human rights violations and nationalism dominated problems confronting the common masses of the state
On the concluding day of the session, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti admitted that the security scenario in the state was not good and development narrative had been replaced by law and order discourse
