STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Opposition Congress and National Conference on Thursday staged a walkout from the Legislative Assembly to protest the alleged use of money power in the by-poll to Anantnag seat where Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is a candidate.
As soon as the Question Hour ended, Congress leader Nawang Rigzin Jora informed the Speaker Kavinder Gupta that police had on Tuesday evening seized a private car and found Rs 58 lakh in it at Ashajipora in Anantnag District.
“During questioning, one person on board identified himself as an employee of Jammu and Kashmir Bank posted at Ashajipora branch,” he said.
Jora claimed that police contacted the manager of the branch who confirmed that the money belonged to the bank and was being transferred to the chest.
“There is a set protocol to be followed while moving the cash to the chest. It is done in an official vehicle… Why was it being done in the night?” he asked.
Jora demanded that the Speaker order an inquiry into the matter as it seems that the government was “distributing the money to buy votes” for the 22nd June by-poll for Anantnag Assembly seat.
The Congress leader found support from his party and National Conference members as well.
Mehbooba Mufti is locked in a multi-cornered contest in Anantnag where the by-poll was necessitated by the death of then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. CAPD Minister Zulfikar Ali intervened saying the opposition was making “baseless charges”.
“The election process is carried out under the direct control and supervision of the Election Commission of India.
If they have any proof, they should bring it forth. But they have no proof,” Ali said. An agitated opposition shouted slogans against the government and staged a walkout from the House.
Meanwhile, the issue of reservations in promotions for government employees on Thursday rocked the Assembly again even as government maintained that the issue cannot be discussed in the House as it was pending adjudication before the Supreme Court.
Cutting across party lines, several MLAs from opposition Congress, National Conference and ruling PDP-BJP stormed the Well of the House to register their protest against the alleged government inaction in restoring the reservation in promotions for government employees.
Congress leader Nawang Rigzin Jora conducted mock Assembly proceedings in the Well of the house after Speaker Kavinder Gupta refused to halt the Question Hour proceedings to discuss the issue of reservations.
The protesting members had enacted similar scenes on Tuesday as well.
Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan intervened in the matter and reiterated that the House can deliberate on the matter only after the Apex Court has delivered its verdict on it.
“The honourable members are aware that the matter is pending adjudication before the Supreme Court. Let the Supreme Court give its verdict and then we can take it forward,” he said.
