The Budget session of the Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly started on a stormy note on Tuesday. Soon after the Governor NN Vohra arrived in the central hall of the State legislature complex to address the joint session of both the houses opposition members from National Conference and Congress disrupted the proceedings to register their protest against the alleged failure of BJP-PDP alliance Government on all fronts.
As pandemonium continued Governor waited patiently amid loud sloganeering by the members. After Opposition members exhausted their ‘lung power’ they decided to stage a walk out from the central hall and staged another sit in on the foot steps of the State legislature complex.
Wearing black badges several Opposition members were seen displaying placards with slogans, “Murderers of Democracy answer the people”, “Panchayat ki taaqat ko waapas karo” and “Choti Kaatne wali sarkar haaye haaye”, “RSS sarkar haaye haaye”, “stop innocent killings, human rights violations” inside the central hall.
Speaking to the media after staging a walkout from the legislature, Ali Mohd Sagar, legislator and senior NC leader said: “We have walked out of the central hall against the failure of the State Government.
The National Conference leaders also submitted a memorandum to Governor NN Vohra here, seeking a political dialogue to resolve the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The memorandum’s release coincided with the start of the Budget session. It claimed that under the BJP-PDP Government the identity of Jammu and Kashmir and its constitutional status was under threat.
The NC expressed concern over the “worsening situation” and the continued political vacuum in the State which adversely affected the human rights situation, economy and growth. It said the issue in Jammu and Kashmir is that of a “political nature” and deserves a sustained, holistic and comprehensive political engagement.
“There is a growing disillusionment in all regions of the state which is a matter of great concern. Therefore, we reiterate our stand seeking a meaningful and result-oriented political dialogue,” it said.
Meanwhile, addressing the joint session Governor reiterated the need to regain the lost trust and negate the misgivings in certain sections of the society in Jammu and Kashmir. Governor NN Vohra said the appointment of the Special Representative by the Union Government to hold talks with the people belonging to all shades of opinion is recognition of the concern for widening the constituency of peace and include even those who may have contrary ideological convictions.
He said this initiative is in tune with the Prime Minister’s Independence Day Address reflecting his concern and empathy for the people of Jammu & Kashmir.
Seeking involvement of all sections of the society in the dialogue process, the Governor said that the Government appeals all those who had earlier refused to be part of the peace process to come forward and accept the Special Representative’s offer for engaging in dialogue. He said the Government is hopeful that, soon enough, all segments shall come forward for a dialogue and all issues would find resolution. “The challenges will be met only through dialogue, which is the best means of resolving all disagreements,” he said.
Vohra said the Government firmly believes that the elected and the electorate have equal stakes in the peace process.