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Govt faces flak both from oppn, treasury benches
Shuchismita. Dated: 2/18/2014 1:19:47 PM
Saroori, PDP, BJP, JKNPP, JSM walkout amid ruckus, sloganeering
JAMMU, Feb 17: The state government Monday found itself in the soup facing flak both from the entire opposition and the treasury benches during Question Hour in the Legislative Assembly on the issue of discrepancies in the distribution of subsidized ration by CAPD across the state.
Not only this the Congress MLA from Inderwal G M Saroori, who in fact blew the whistle, too staged a walkout on this issue besides the entire opposition though separately.
The opposition, which got another handy opportunity to nail down the coalition government in a joint offensive, staged walkout on the issue amid ruckus and sloganeering “Bhashan Nahin Ration Chahiye.”
The most embarrassing situation for the government was that the opportunity to opposition legislators to corner it (coalition) was provided by one of the legislators of ruling combine i.e., MLA Inderwal, who targetted his own government for not providing ration in his constituency as per census 2011 despite repeated assurances.
The opposition gleefully seized the opportunity and launched a full throttle offensive against the government. Interestingly few more legislators from Congress and National Conference, besides PDF MLA Hakeem Mohammed Yaseen, CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami and independent MLA Langate Abdul Rashid Engineer, too joined the cause.
Furore started when Saroori, while pointing out incongruity in the answer to his question on ration provision, did not mince words in expressing his anger against the government.
“At one place, they are saying that the government cannot provide ration as per 2011 census as the Centre was not providing the same yet at the same time they are saying that National Food Security Act will be implemented in the state as per 2011 census. If the Act can be implemented in 11 states, why it cannot be implemented in J&K! When will it happen? Kaun Say Aasman Say Khajoor Girengay Aur Hum Baatengay (when it will be available and we’ll distribute),” infuriated Saroori mocked.
Minister of State for CAPD Vikar Rasool, who was at the receiving end of his fury, tried to pacify him stating that National Food Security Act 2013 provided for coverage of 75 percent of the rural and 50 percent of the urban population to receive subsidized food grains under Targeted Public Distribution System, in view of the recent trends in production and procurement of food grains.
He said that accordingly, based on the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) data for 2011-12 on consumption expenditure, the coverage determined by the Planning Commission had been calculated as 63.55 percent for rural areas and 47.10 percent for urban areas for the state which worked out to be 74.13 lakh persons.
Rasool said that the implementation got delayed to cover rest of the population as per 2011 census and it would be implemented by July this year, when the stipulated time period of one year would end.
Saroori, dissatisfied by the answer, fumed, “Nine months have passed and their survey has still not been completed. Give us specific time when the survey will be completed. Soi Hui Sarkar Ko Nau Mahinay Ho Gaye (the government has been in deep slumber for past nine months) and the people are suffering. Meri Constituency Mein Ration Ki Ek Boond Bhi Nahin Hai (in my constituency, ration is not available at all).”
His remark hitting his own government was applauded by the opposition legislators mainly those from PDP with thumping of desks and soon the entire opposition joined the cause with him.
Vikar yet again tried to defend the government saying that it was taking time to cover the entire population under the scheme.
However, his defence did not work as by then the legislators of PDP, BJP, JKNPP and JSM too started creating ruckus on the issue and supporting the contention of Saroori.
Abdul Haq of PDP asked, “Where is ration?” PDP legislature party leader and the Leader of the opposition Mehbooba Mufti also joined the issue.
As the entire opposition, up on feet, launched joint offensive, Speaker Legislative Assembly Mubarak Gul, in a bid to pacify the agitating lot, allowed them to raise supplementaries.
While this was going on, infuriated Saroori staged a walk out at 10.22 AM.
PDP MLA A R Veeri, joining the issue said that three lakh families had no ration cards which meant that 15 lakh people were without ration cards. He stated that although 2011 census completed yet the distribution criterion was not justified and the people were suffering. Taking a dig at the coalition government, he said, “It is easy to give/issue passports but not the ration cards. Make it a time bound process.”
JKNPP legislature party leader Harsh Dev Singh said that ration was available only in books or on papers. The government had announced to provide 35 kg ration but the people in Udhampur were not getting ration under both APL and BPL categories. Rehbar-e-Khurak policy was announced but not implemented,” he said.
BJP MLA Jugal Kishore Sharma stated that the people in his constituency were getting only 12 kg ration against 35 kg ration as was announced.
MLA Jammu West said that ration was not available anywhere although the minister had announced to provide 35 kg ration. “What’s about his commitment?” he asked.
MLA Langate Abdul Rashid Engineer said that the people could not wait for long for ration while the administration was sleeping indifferent to their sufferings. He even threatened to gherao the minister’s residence after one week. “We won’t allow him to come to the House,” he further threatened.
NC MLA Rachpal Singh asked the government to provide ration to starving people of his constituency immediately till the new scheme (Food Security Act) would get implemented. NC MLA from Poonch Aijaz Jan too pleaded the cause of his people saying that there was ration scarcity. PDP MLA Abdul Haq said that the government had failed to provide ration as per 2011 census as per its promise.
CPI(M) MLA M Y Tarigami, describing the issue as “crucial question”, found fault with the National Food Security Act (NFSA). “Under NFSA, ration has been targeted though it should have been universalized. With its implementation, there will be decrease in the ration quota. What is the government doing to address the concerns of agitating legislators and people?” he asked.
JSM MLA Ashwani Sharma said that this was not a question of one constituency but the entire state. “The CAPD is distributing ration as per 2001 census and verification was not doing to update the population survey,” he added.
JKNPP MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia threatened to resign while accusing the government of lying vis-à-vis provision of 35 kg ration. He entered the well while protesting. “There’s been no ration available in my constituency for the past three months,” he said.
PDF MLA Hakeem Mohammed Yaseen too expressed concern over people’s woes on account of ration scarcity.
By this time, agitating PDP members besides BJP, JKNPP, JSM, CPI(M), PDF members gathered in the front row raising slogans. MLA Langate too was agitating in the well.
Soon slogans like “Jo Sarkar Ration Na De Sakey Woh Sarkar Nikammi Hai”, “Bhashan Nahin Ration Do” “Ration Pay Jhooth Bolnay Wali Sarkar Ko Ek Dhakka Aur Do” rent the air.
Amid this ruckus and sloganeering, PDP members staged walkout at 10.38 AM while BJP, JKNPP and JSM MLAs walked out of the House at 10.39 AM.
Later talking to media outside the state legislature, PDP president said, “During last five years, even after consistent demands, the state government has failed to give subsidised food grains to people. The quantity of food grains provided to people is also less. It is being provided keeping almost 12-year-old old census in mind. A man, who has just got married and has kids, is not eligible for subsidised food grains while his old father has been provided with the same.”
“The places which are far-away and for tribal areas, there is no provision for supplying food grains and people have to walk nearly 10 kilometres to get food grains. There are no proper godowns where we can store grains in case of emergencies,” she added.