Jammu, March 26 Ahead of the resumption of the second leg of the Budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Friday, the J-K Congress said on Thursday that the House should be used to address urgent public issues, rather than “playing to the gallery for cheap publicity”.
“The House should focus on pressing concerns, not political theatrics,” J-K Congress working president Raman Bhalla told reporters here.
The common people are facing severe hardships, including shortages of LPG and fuel, with panic triggered by fears of possible restrictions similar to a lockdown, Bhalla said.
“The Assembly should discuss measures to minimise the suffering of the people in the days ahead,” he added.
The Congress also claimed that J-K Congress chief Tariq Hameed Karra had submitted resolutions on issues including the regularisation of daily wagers and contractual workers, the rehabilitation of refugees, concerns of Kashmiri Pandits and flood-affected families, but these have not been listed for discussion during the session.
The party demanded that the Assembly unanimously pass a resolution urging the Centre to implement the 2014 relief package for refugees in full, including the release of the remaining Rs 30 lakh per family and resolution of their ST-2 status issue.
The Congress also called for adequate relief and rehabilitation for flood victims, who, it said, have been waiting for assistance for months.
“The worst sufferers of the floods have received meagre assistance, and reconstruction work in the urban areas has stalled due to lack of funds,” Bhalla claimed.
Former minister Mula Ram raised concerns over the “non-availability” of seeds and fertilisers for farmers still reeling from losses caused by last year’s floods, the non-bifurcation of family ration cards and “inflated” electricity bills generated through smart metres.
Congress leader Ravinder Sharma, meanwhile, warned against any deletion of genuine voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the Union territory, saying the party would also oppose the inclusion of ineligible voters.
The Congress leaders appealed to the BJP MLAs to avoid politicising public issues and instead participate in constructive debates to address the concerns of people, particularly the unemployed youth.
The party also reiterated its claim of selective withdrawal and downgrading of security cover for its MLAs and some leaders of other parties, and sought answers from the Union home ministry and the lieutenant governor’s administration over what it termed a “vindictive and discriminatory” approach.
On Wednesday, the J-K Congress had claimed that the security cover of several of its legislators, including Tariq Karra, was being “downgraded” ahead of the resumption of the Budget session on Friday.
On Thursday, the Congress questioned whether the lives of elected representatives were less important than senior police officers and bureaucrats, who, it alleged, continued to enjoy extensive security cover.
“There is selective withdrawal of security escort and downgrading of security of Congress MLAs and other leaders. We seek answers for this vindictive and discriminatory approach of the authorities,” Bhalla told reporters.
“The sudden withdrawal of security cover for the PCC president, CLP leader and other Congress MLAs, as well as legislators from other parties, on the eve of the Assembly session raises serious questions. Are the same yardsticks being applied to top police officers and civil servants?” Bhalla asked.
“As elected representatives, the MLAs are ranked above the chief secretary and the DGP, and they face risks to their lives. Yet, even middle-rank officers enjoy more security cover than the senior leaders of the non-BJP parties,” the Congress leader alleged.
He described the “development” as “arbitrary and condemnable”, despite the heightened security concerns following some recent incidents, including last April’s Pahalgam terror attack, and the attempt on the life of National Conference president Farooq Abdullah earlier this month.