Srinagar, Sep 26: Justice and Development Front president Shameem Ahmad Thoker on Saturday criticised the repeated disruptions in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, saying the conduct of some members did not reflect the legacy of the region’s legislative institutions or the expectations of the people who elected them.
Thoker said there was a time when the Assembly witnessed detailed debates, mutual respect and discussion even when members differed over legislation and policy issues.
Recalling the presence of leaders such as Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in the legislature, he said legislative proceedings in the past involved debate and discussion, with members listening to one another despite political differences.
“But today, people raise chairs, clap and behave in a manner that makes us feel that we have not sent representatives to the Assembly,” Thoker said, questioning the conduct witnessed during the ongoing session.
He said the primary responsibility of elected representatives was to address the problems and requirements of the people who had voted for them, alleging that repeated disruptions were instead resulting in a loss of public time and preventing substantive issues from being discussed.
Thoker also criticised the political confrontation over the issue of statehood, saying restoration of statehood should not be treated as separate from the demand for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
He said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah should be firm in raising the demand for statehood and that the issue of Article 370 and Article 35A should also be discussed.
“Statehood is incomplete until Article 370 and Article 35A and our special status are discussed,” he said, adding that all these issues should be pursued together.
Thoker said political positions had shifted over the years, recalling that when autonomy was discussed, some people had argued in favour of “freedom”, while now, when Article 370 was being raised, some were asking for autonomy.
He said the issues should not be presented as alternatives and maintained that statehood and Article 370 should be taken forward together.
Referring to the ongoing friction between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, Thoker said the people were ultimately bearing the consequences.
He said the government blamed the LG for not allowing it to function, while the LG’s side maintained that the government had the required powers to work.
“LG says they have all the ways to work, while the government says the LG does not let it work. In between, the poor people of Kashmir are suffering,” he said.
Thoker urged the National Conference to intensify its political resistance on statehood and Article 370 while also building public confidence and seeking people’s support for the issues.
He also criticised the Assembly debate surrounding the proposal concerning a five-day working week, saying lawmakers should instead focus on issues directly affecting public welfare, particularly the functioning and quality of government schools.
“The discussion should be on how to make government schools productive and how to bring quality education into these schools,” he said.
Thoker argued that Jammu and Kashmir already has a substantial number of holidays and vacations and questioned the impact of adding further weekly holidays on the number of actual working days.
He said there were around 75 days of winter vacation, 25 gazetted holidays and 15 days of summer vacation, leaving around 172 days, and that Saturdays could further reduce the effective working days to around 139.
He also pointed to the deployment of teachers for duties outside teaching, including census and election-related assignments, saying such factors further affect the functioning of government schools.
Thoker said the Assembly should instead focus on “core issues” and avoid bringing matters that, according to him, divert public attention from those concerns.
He appealed to MLAs from the NC, Congress and BJP to ensure that the Assembly functions properly during the remaining days of the session.
“I request all the Assembly members, whether they are from NC, Congress or BJP, to think about the people who worked from morning till evening for you, voted for you and sent you there,” he said.
Calling the present conduct an attempt to undermine the region’s legislative legacy and civilised political environment, Thoker also appealed to BJP MLAs to help ensure that the House functions without disruptions.
He said elected representatives should first allow the Assembly to function and then hold the government accountable for its performance.
“Let the Assembly run properly, after that the government will be made accountable for not working for the people,” he said.(KNS)
Repeated disruptions consuming Assembly time, keeping core public issues out of debate: JDF Chief
Says statehood, restoration of Article 370 should be pursued together; Asks NC, Congress, BJP legislators to allow House proceedings, focus on people’s concerns
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