Associated News Bureau

J&K Assembly Session Opens Amid Protests Over Power Tariffs, Employee Issues and Statehood

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 21, ANB: The autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly began on Monday amid noisy protests by opposition legislators, with BJP members raising issues related to electricity tariffs, power supply and the regularisation of daily-wagers and National Health Mission (NHM) employees. The disruption began after the obituary references were concluded. BJP legislators stood up in the House and raised slogans seeking measures for daily-wagers and NHM employees, besides protesting over electricity supply and tariff-related issues. The protesting members also carried placards and raised slogans including “Insaf Karo, Daily-wagers Ke Sath” and “Insaf Karo, NHM Employees Ke Sath”. Some BJP legislators also raised “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” slogans. Despite the protests, ministers continued responding to questions raised by members during Question Hour. Congress legislators Irfan Hafiz Lone and Iftikhar Ahmad also intervened amid the commotion, while CPI(M) legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami sought to respond to the BJP members. As the protests intensified, several BJP legislators entered the Well of the House and continued raising slogans against the government. National Conference legislators subsequently raised slogans demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather repeatedly appealed to the protesting members to return to their seats and allow the proceedings to continue. He also warned that action could be taken if the disruption persisted. NC legislator Nazir Ahmad Gurezi criticised the BJP members for disrupting the proceedings and alleged that the protests were consuming valuable time of the House. He suggested that issues concerning the Union government should be raised in Delhi. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said the government was prepared to respond to issues raised by the members and urged the BJP legislators to listen to the government's replies. The proceedings remained affected by repeated exchanges and sloganeering before the House was adjourned for the day after Rural Development Minister Javid Ahmad Dar introduced a bill seeking amendments to the cooperative law. ANB