Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed a series of significant developments on Tuesday, with the government withdrawing three Bills concerning the salaries and pensions of legislators, even as members raised questions over the role of the bureaucracy in Assembly affairs and pressed for action on a range of governance and public-service issues.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah withdrew the three Bills, which had been introduced a day earlier and related to the salaries and allowances of ministers and legislators and the pensions of former legislators. The move came after opposition from BJP members in the House. Abdullah said he had not been in favour of the proposal and indicated that the Bills would not be pursued in the face of objections from members.
The withdrawal came amid continuing friction between the treasury and opposition benches following Monday’s passage of a resolution seeking the immediate and urgent restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. BJP members had opposed the resolution and staged a walkout during Monday’s proceedings.
The functioning of the elected government under the Union Territory arrangement also figured prominently. Congress MLA Nizamuddin Bhat raised what he described as bureaucratic overreach and urged the Speaker to place on the Assembly record a communication from the Law Secretary. The issue followed correspondence from senior officials concerning the statehood resolution.
During the debate on the resolution, the Chief Minister had questioned how the Law Secretary and the Chief Secretary could communicate objections to a resolution moved by him without his knowledge, in his capacity as Chief Minister and Law Minister. He cited the episode as an example of the limitations faced by an elected government under the Union Territory framework.
Members also raised issues concerning electricity, employment, public utilities and the implementation of government schemes. BJP MLA Divyani Singh Rana referred to the advice of her late father, former MLA Devendra Singh Rana, that issues raised in the House should be pursued to their logical conclusion. She suggested waiving interest on pending electricity dues, involving women self-help groups in electricity bill collection, and using any savings from an interest waiver to strengthen the Jal Jeevan Mission.
The proceedings brought together legislative withdrawals, questions over the relationship between the elected government and the administration, and a range of public-interest concerns, as the autumn session moved towards its conclusion. The exchanges show how the debate over statehood and the division of authority under the Union Territory framework continues to shape the business of the House well beyond the resolution itself.
