Srinagar, June 1 (KNS): Speaker Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta Wednesday directed the government to “immediately stop” all the SROs that have been issued by the Finance department following announcement of the Budget.
The direction of the speaker came after National Conference Opposition leader and former chief minister Omar Abdullah opposed the issuance of SROs without the budget being passed by the Assembly.
The Budget was tabled by the finance minister Dr Haseeb Drabu on Monday and is slated to be passed by the Lower House on Thursday.
As the Question Hour was about to begin in the Lower House today, Omar told the speaker that the government has made “mockery” of the House by issuing SROs without the budget being passed first.
“Speaker sahab, the budget was proposed by the Finance Minister on 30-5-2016, which instead of being discussed and passed by the house was immediately implemented on the same evening, which is a joke with the House,” Omar said.
“The SROs concerning taxes were issued by the finance department in the evening which nullify existence of the House and Opposition,” he added.
Omar continued: “By I propose means consent of the house is needed. But Finance Minister implemented all taxes, defeating the purpose of having Opposition and the House.”
“If Budget is proposed, at least give it three to four days of discussion before implementing, so that there would be possibility of some good suggestions from the house.”
“It is evident that the government has majority in the house, so the budget stands passed, but still there are some rules which ought to be followed. If the government had to implement it without discussion, why did they propose it in the house? This is contempt of the house,” he said.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He further said that the present approach of the government is “despotic” and “injustice” with the members of the house.
“This approach of the finance minister has taken house forgranted. We want justice in this regard,” he added.
The legislators of National Conference, Congress and independent members supported Omar’s opposition and demanded early withdrawal of the SROs.
“If the government has to work like this, then what is the need of the Opposition in the house,” Opposition Congress Legislative Party leader Nawang Rigzin Jora said.
Replying to the objections, Finance Minister Dr Haseeb Drabu said that this is not a new practice and is in existence from a long time and even center is following the same pattern.
“There is nothing wrong in issuing SROs on taxes which are proposed in the budget, as the state assembly has followed the line of center in implementing it,” Drabu replied.
However, independent MLA from Langate, Er Rasheed interrupted by saying “Whom are you referring to. Are we daily wagers here,” said Rasheed, demanding revocation of the SROs.
Meanwhile, BJP legislator from Jammu West, Sat Paul Sharma supported the demand of the opposition.
“I definitely agree with the demand of opposition and these SROs should be withdrawn,” Sharma said.
In the course of ruckus, independent MLA from Udhampur Pawn Gupta accused the BJP legislator of running monopoly in the house.
“You have violated the rules and run the House as per your wishes which is disrespect of the house and its members,” Gupta said.
As the uproar was about to erupt in the House, Speaker Gupta directed the government to stop the SROs implemented by the finance department. (KNS)