Srinagar, Sep 19: Storm clouds are gathering over the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly ahead of its autumn session beginning Monday, with the ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition parties finalising their floor strategies amid a packed agenda of public issues.
The 10-day session is scheduled from September 21 to 30, with the opening day beginning with obituary references followed by government business on September 22. Private Members’ Bills and resolutions are scheduled for September 24 and 25, respectively.
The NC will hold its Legislature Party meeting on Sunday at 4:30 pm in Srinagar. Party president Dr Farooq Abdullah will chair the meeting, which will be attended by Chief Minister and Legislature Party leader Omar Abdullah, along with party legislators and Independent MLAs supporting the government.
On the opposition benches, the BJP is preparing to put the government on the defensive over unemployment and recruitment, electricity tariff, daily wagers and what it says are unfulfilled electoral commitments.
Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma said the BJP will raise public issues and seek answers from the government for promises made to the people. “The party will rake up employment, daily-wager regularisation and the recent electricity tariff hike,” he said.
The power tariff issue is likely to be particularly contentious after the Jammu and Kashmir Electricity Regulatory Commission approved a 6.83 per cent tariff increase, with the BJP questioning the move against the backdrop of the NC’s electoral promise of 200 units of free electricity.
The issue of daily wagers is also set to figure prominently. A Private Members’ Resolution by BJP MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta seeking a comprehensive, uniform and time-bound regularisation policy for daily-rated, casual, NYC and other similarly placed workers has been selected for consideration on September 25.
People’s Conference chief and Handwara MLA Sajad Gani Lone is also set to keep the government under pressure, having submitted resolutions on issues including the recent power tariff hike and the 1987 Assembly elections.
The Assembly Secretariat has confirmed admission of his tariff-related resolution, while Lone has sought clarification over the status of his 1987-election resolution.
Meanwhile, Pampore MLA Hasnain Masoodi has proposed that schools observe Saturday and Sunday as weekly holidays, arguing that young students face long study hours and excessive academic pressure. Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said the proposal would be examined by the School Education Department and the two Directorates of School Education.
The session comes with nearly 650 questions and around 50 Private Members’ Resolutions submitted by legislators, although only a limited number of resolutions will be selected for consideration.
Ahead of the proceedings, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather has urged legislators to maintain the dignity and decorum of the House, while telling the media that substantive debates and issues of public importance should receive greater prominence in coverage than disruptions and drama.
With employment, electricity tariffs, daily wagers, education and other public concerns lined up, Monday’s opening bell is expected to set the tone for a session where the treasury and opposition benches are likely to clash over both governance and electoral commitments.
