Opposition Demands Extended Sitting Amid Heated Debate in J&K Assembly

 

Hemani Kandhari 

Jammu, March 12 : The ninth day of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly session commenced with the Question Hour, followed by discussions on grants for four key ministries—Health and Medical Education, School Education, Higher Education, and Social Welfare.  

At 1:10 PM, the opposition called for a second sitting, seeking a fair opportunity for all MLAs to voice their concerns on the grants. In response, the Speaker, with the backing of National Conference (NC) MLAs, proposed extending the session by 30 minutes, until 2:00 PM. However, senior Congress leader Sham Lal Sharma objected, arguing that some members were new to the House and unaware of procedural norms. He questioned how proceedings could continue without input from the Business Advisory Committee.  

Amid growing tensions, Education and Health Minister Sakina Ittoo intervened, stating that the matter was being exaggerated. She reminded members that all present were experienced legislators well-versed in procedural rules. The discussion soon escalated into a heated exchange between the opposition and treasury benches, leading to brief chaos in the House.  

In an attempt to restore order, Mubarak Gul, who was presiding over the session, assured the members that their concerns would be

addressed appropriately. He stated that both the Speaker and the Assembly Secretary were closely listening to the demands and would take necessary action.  

The session continued amid political disagreements, reflecting the ongoing tussle between the opposition and the ruling benches over procedural fairness in legislative proceedings.

Following the concern, Mubarak Gul announced the extension of proceedings until 2:00 PM, allowing additional time for discussions on the grants, as demanded by the opposition.

Towards the end of today's proceedings, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather took the chair and addressed the issue, stating, "If it is the concern of the whole House, I have no objection to constituting a Business Advisory Committee."