The budget session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is set to commence on March 3. Ahead of the session, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather has convened an all-party meeting on Thursday. The assembly session is expected to be stormy, as the opposition has strategized to corner the government on various issues. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made it clear that it will not tolerate any unconstitutional or anti-national bills. The all-party meeting is scheduled to take place at the Jammu Secretariat.
In the all-party meeting, the BJP will be represented by Sunil Kumar Sharma and Surjit Singh Salathia. The ruling National Conference has designated Ali Mohammad Sagar and Mubarak Gul to attend the meeting. Other representatives invited to the meeting include Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] legislator Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, Congress MLA Ghulam Ahmad Mir, People’s Conference legislator Sajad Gani Lone, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra, and independent legislator Muzaffar Khan.
Speaker Calls an All-Party Meeting Before the budget session
The BJP already has a set agenda for the coming assembly session. BJP MLA and leader of opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma said that the party will not let any unconstitutional bill or anti-national bill be tabled. He also raised objections to the publication of private member bills before they were brought to the Speaker’s notice. Sharma emphasized that private member bills should not be made public without prior approval from the Speaker.
Congress leader Ghulam Ahmad Mir emphasized that such meetings would further the spirit of mutual understanding and coordination among political parties. He recalled that similar meetings took place in the past, strengthening relationships between the parties. However, he did not speak openly about the specific role of Congress in the upcoming assembly session.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) legislator, Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, made note of the invitation extended to opposition parties for discussions during the all-party meeting. Such inputs, he added, are opportunities for the opposition to air their concerns and make constructive contributions to the deliberations in the assembly.
Political dynamics will accelerate in Jammu & Kashmir as the budget session draws near. Expect intense debate in the assembly with the ruling party and opposition ready for an all-out confrontation in relation to vital legislative issues.
