Riyaz Ul Khaliq

SRINAGAR

FinMin Dr Drabu prior to his Budget 2016-17 speech. (Photo: Bilal Bahadur/KL)
FinMin Dr Drabu prior to his Budget 2016-17 speech. (Photo: Bilal Bahadur/KL)

Seeking reasonable increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Independent lawmaker, Er Sheikh Abdul Rasheed Tuesday reminded J&K FinMin of ‘Saas Bhi Kabi Bahu Thi’.

“We are unable to satisfy demands of constituency in Rs 1.5 crore you give under CDF,” he told FinMin, “take care, tomorrow you too can be in our (Opposition) seats.” “It needs to be increased reasonably or tomorrow you will have to face same situation as we are facing now; Saas Bhi Kabi Bahu Thi.”

Participating in the general budget discussion in lower house on Tuesday, Langate Lawmaker, Er Sheikh Ab Rasheed said that the PDP-BJP government forgot “Laadli Beti” of Kupwara.

Lauding the late Mufti led initiative to save girl child, Rasheed, addressing treasury benches, said that whenever people talk of orphans, “Kupwara is reminded”. “But why has not been Laadli Beti of Kupwara included in the initiative,” he told the government.

Rasheed said that everyone mentions Dardpora – the village of orphans and widows – “whether it is Hurriyat or us or anyone else, we only talk about them but we don’t do anything concrete about them,” he said.

He appreciated role of Help Foundation, an NGO, in helping the village “come out of scars of conflict”.

Reminding FinMin Dr Haseeb A Drabu of former CM late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s commitment to develop Bangus valley for tourism, he said, “there is a misconception that Bangus is related to border which is not the reality.

“It is the best tourist destination in whole of Jammu and Kashmir but manned by armed forces,” he said demanding separate development authority for Bangus valley. He sought cooperation from other MLAs from Kupwara who include Ministers Ab Haq Khan and Sajad Gani Lone and PC’s Bashir Ahmad Dar.

MLA Langate Er Rasheed being marshalled out of the J&K Assembly on Monday during the budget presentation. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)
MLA Langate Er Rasheed was marshalled out of the J&K Assembly on Monday during the budget presentation. (KL Image: Bilal Bahadur)

In his precise 7 minute speech, Rasheed lauded the “visionary” step of waiving off fee for girl students up to class twelfth and announcement of food testing laboratory in Jammu and Kashmir. However, he asked the government to take fencing of schools in state. But said, “government needs to take hospitals and schools seriously.” He demanded separate water filtration plants in every constituency

On the creation of new administrative, he said, units have been created but unki haalat ye hai ki there is no office not even computer.”

The Langate lawmaker further said that the government should announce a package for those who have crossed Line of Control from Keran, Uri and Tanghdar areas. “When you can take care of KP migrants why not those who have crossed into PaK,” he asked the government. “You need to come up with a comprehensive policy wherein measures will be taken to safeguard and ensure respectable life of families of those who return from PaK under rehabilitation policy.”

Further, Rasheed revealed, that empowerment of Panchayats has “put lawmakers into trouble”. “

Rasheed campaigned, with thumping of benches from across the house, increase in the salary of Pas to MLAs. “You know in this hour when taxes are being increased nothing can be bought from mere Rs 5k you pay to our PAs. Do something; give us an office, increase the salary, post some KAS officers with lawmakers,” Rasheed told Dr Drabu.

Referring to reforms in power sector of J&K, Rasheed said that one of the small power projects under PPP mode is lying idle, uncompleted. “Give it to someone,” he told the government, “our area will be benefitted.”

On the proposed allotment of Rs 1.93 crore to Jammu and Kashmir for its 193 Police Stations, he said, “it is good but will add to the situation.”

Participating in the budget debate, partner in government, BJP state president and MLA Jammu-West, Sat Pal Sharma demanded increase in the proposed Rs 5 crore for entrepreneurs of Jammu and Kashmir. “The initiative is good,” Sat Pal Sharma said, “but Rs 5 Cr is minimal and the same needs to be increased at least to Rs 20 crore; 10 Cr each for Kashmir and Jammu provinces.”

Lauding Drabu for presenting “visionary” budget, he, however, sought Rs 5 crore for Journalist Welfare Fund.

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