The National Conference today raked up Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution in the Legislative Assembly to corner the ruling PDP for entering into an alliance with the BJP.
Veteran NC leader Mohammad Shafi Uri, who is a former Finance Minister of the state, initiated the debate on the Budget.
As Uri’s debate was more political, PDP minister Imran Raza Ansari intervened for taking up political issues during the Budget debate but he was snubbed by the former. “You are a first-timer in the House. Read rules and procedures of the Assembly and you will find that the sphere of the Budget debate is vast,” Uri said.
“By extending the goods and services tax to J&K, the propagators of the self-rule have meekly surrendered before Delhi or Nagpur,” the NC leaded said in an obvious reference towards the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) having its headquarter at Nagpur.
Quoting recent remarks of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who had said the abrogation of Article 370 was the only solution to the Kashmir problem, Uri asked thePDP leadership to clear its stand on the issue.
“You are supporting dialogue for restoring peace in the region but your coalition partner (BJP) is of the view that the ‘operation all-out’ and the NIA are the only options,” said Uri.
“If these are the only alternatives what is the need of appointing an Interlocutor?” he asked the PDP leadership while repeating former CM Omar Abdullah’s statement that Centre’s special representative Dineshwar Sharma was acting like a “super chief minister.”
Allow scribes to use mobile phones in House: Omar
Former CM Omar Abdullah supported the use of mobile phones by journalists in the House. “Journalists are using phones for live streaming and other online media. You cannot be so harsh. If they don’t work, members will start complaining that their proceedings are not being covered,” Omar told Deputy Speaker Nazir Gurezi. Omar’s response came after Gurezi asked marshals to snatch a mobile phone from a journalist for using it in the House. “I have only banned use of phones by reporters for voice calls,” Gurezi clarified.
National Conference raises Article 370 to corner PDP in Assembly
