‘Govt failed to reach out to flood affected’

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 4/7/2015 4:20:22 PM

BJP MLAs agitate against ration curtailment

JAMMU, Apr 6: Protesting National Conference and Congress MLAs Monday tried to corner the coalition government accusing it of having failed to reach out to rain, flood affected in the state particularly the valley, with its focus only on photo-ops moments and lip-service. Independent MLA from Langate Abdul Rashid Engineer MLA too joined the cause with the protesting opposition legislators, who even stormed into the well, disrupting proceedings during the Question Hour.
As a part of protesting opposition MLAs, Congress legislators from erstwhile Doda district raked up the issue of deaths, landslides, soil erosion, scarcity of ration, closure of NH, link roads in Chenab valley which, they said, suffered damages of equal magnitude in recent heavy rains. Before raising this issue in the Legislative Assembly, Congress MLA from Inderwal G M Saroori joined by two party MLCs Naresh Gupta and Sham Lal Bhagat also agitated outside the House.
Holding placards “Save Chenab valley” in their hands, the trio protested for a while on the stairs of Legislature Complex. Later, Saroori entered the Lower House holding same placard.
Amid opposition’s commotion, few BJP MLAs, including Rajiv Sharma and Dr Gagan Bhagat too agitated upon the issue of curtailment in ration in different parts of state particularly in Jammu division since February, 2015. They resented against 40 percent to 55 percent cut in the prescribed scale of ration quota since February. They stated that the situation was worse in the rural areas of the state where a mere 15 kg to 20 kg of ration was provided to the people of APL category as against the scale of 35 kg.
At the very outset, as soon as the House met for day’s proceedings for the Question Hour, the members of both the National Conference and Congress were up on feet protesting against “tardy response of government towards rain, flood-affected across the state, particularly in the Valley.”
“What is this government doing? While people continue to suffer, the ministers are busy enjoying photo op moments. They government has not been able to reach people on ground and its ministers are giving statement while sitting in rooms,” NC MLA Ali Mohammed Sagar said. His party colleagues also took a dig at the BJP-PDP government for not being able to get Rs 44,000 Cr relief and rehabilitation package from the Union government. “Why are you not getting Rs 44,000 Cr relief and rehabilitation package from the Centre,” NC legislator Devender Singh Rana said.
Joined by Congress MLAs, from the Valley and an independent MLA from Langate, few NC legislators stormed into the well protesting against the government. “We want a detailed statement from the government about the measures it has taken and being taken to provide succor to the affected people. We want a debate on this issue in the House,” the agitated members demanded.
Amidst the protest and noise, the Congress members from Chenab valley raised the issue of the damages being suffered by the areas in Chenab valley due to the ongoing incessant rains. ”Road links are disconnected, people are dying due to landslides, there is a scarcity of food grains in the area. There is no power and the government is doing nothing,” Congress MLA Vikar Rasool said.
Commotion dominated the proceedings for at least 20 minutes. As nothing was audible in the din, the Speaker asked the agitating MLAs to take their seats and assured to give them time to speak on the issue briefly. The Speaker also assured to hold special discussion on relief and rehabilitation for rain and flood affected. This pacified the agitating members but not before consuming 20 minutes of hour-long Question Hour.

 

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