Jammu, Apr 9: Accusing ruling National Conference for backstabbing Kashmiris through the Inter-District Recruitment Bill, opposition Peoples Democratic Party on Friday termed the passing of the bill in the legislative assembly as another black day in the state’s history.
 Addressing a joint press conference, soon after the House passed the legislation without allowing the PDP to participate in the discussion, party president Mehbooba Mufti and senior leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the National Conference has repeated the blunder it committed in 1987.
 “National Conference discredited the Election Commission in 1987 by rigging elections and today once again, the same party discredited the legislative assembly and the democracy by passing the inter-district recruitment bill in an undemocratic manner”, Mehbooba said.
 “It was yet another glaring instance of match fixing”, she said and added that the coalition passed the Bill like a thief, who is in a hurry to collect the booty with the fear of getting caught.
  “It was another black day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir after 1987”, she said adding; “We came in the House to participate in the debate on the bill but the government was hesitant to hear us”. The Speaker, she said, allowed legislators of National Panthers Party (NPP) and BJP to speak on the bill but the largest opposition party was not allowed.
 “The government has discredited the institution of assembly by resorting to such autocratic means”, added Mehbooba.
 The party, she said, is not against the Scheduled Caste community but at the same time “we as the representatives of the people have the right to discuss the pros and cons of such an important the legislation”
 Former Deputy Chief Minister and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig observed that the manner in which the Bill was passed is not only unconstitutional but also against the business rules. “For passing any bill, the House must be in order and every member must be seated”, he said adding, “But in this case the Speaker was in such a hurry that he even bypassed the rules and precedence”.
 According to the House precedence, a Bill has to be produced in the House by the Law Minister who shall also highlight its needs and requirements. This, he said, has to be followed by a discussion to be initiated by the Leader of the Opposition. He said that it was the discretion of the Leader of Opposition, if she wanted to allow someone else to speak on her behalf.
 “However, the entire world has seen what the Speaker has done”, he said, “I was allowed to speak by our leader on her behalf and I also made a request to the Chair seeking permission”.
 “The PDP represents majority of population in Jammu and Kashmir since it has gained more votes than the National Conference and Congress,” he said.
 “Yeh Zulli-Illahi Kahan Se Paida Ho Geya Hai Jo Rules and Precedence Kou Follow Nahin Karte Hain”, he said and added that the NC was living in fool’s paradise if it believes that it will remain in power forever.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 10 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST