Srinagar, June 28 (KNS): Ruckus erupted in Lower House of the legislature Tuesday after legislators, cutting across party lines, protested against the statement of Forest Minister, Lal Singh, when he said that participation of MLAs in every government activity is “not necessary”.
Infuriated legislators stood up from their Benches, which prompted a senior minister to rebut the Singh’s remark in the House.
Opposition MLA from Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad Wani protested in the house today, saying that he was not invited by the Forest department when the forest minister visited Pahalgam constituency Monday.
“I was ignored by the concerned minister who conducted a tour of my constituency. The minister did not consider it important to invite local MLA in the meeting which was convened by him,” said Wani.
Replying to irate MLA, Minister for Forests, Lal Singh said that it is “not necessary” to invite MLA in every government activity.
“There is no protocol to invite MLAs in every government activity,” Singh said.
However, MLAs cutting the party lines protested the Singh’s statement.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelThey shouted slogans and stormed in to the Well of the House.
Opposition NC MLA, Ali Mohammad Sagar asked the concerned minister to apologise for his statement.
“This is disrespect to the MLAs. The minister must keep in mind that the House is because of MLAs. The minister comes from MLAs and the government itself is made because of MLAs. Therefore, sidelining MLAs from government meeting is nothing more than disrespect,” Sagar said.
Senior PDP minister Abdul Rehman Veeri attempting to pacify the agitated legislators.
Veeri, who is Minister for R&B said that as per protocol MLA concerned should be informed about any government activity in his constituency.
“There are set guidelines that MLA must be invited to participate in government activity, especially when it is convened in the constituency of the MLA,” Veeri said.
“If any MLA is not invited, we will assure that he is invited. And yesterday’s thing should not happen in future,” he said. (KNS)