Jammu, Mar 8: The Independent MLA, Er Rashid, on Thursday said the peace in Kashmir valley has been enforced with police lathis, atrocities and with the slapping of Public Safety Act (PSA) on hundreds of youth.   
 Ridiculing the “peace dividend budget” presented by Finance Minister Abdul Rahim Rather he said, 
 “You have talked about peace in the Budget but in real sense the peace in Kashmir valley has been enforced by resorting to suppressive measures,” Er Rashid said while taking part in post-budget  discussion in the Legislative Assembly.
 “You cannot bring peace by keeping Dr Qasim and Masarat Alam behind the bars” he said.
  Launching a scathing attack on all the parties, he said that no party is serious regarding the political solution of Kashmir issue. “Every party has its own agenda, NC talks about autonomy, PDP of Self Rule, while BJP, JKNPP and others term JK as an integral part of India but why these issues are never discussed in the House,” he said.
 Inviting BJP legislators to Kashmir Valley, Er Rashid said, “Come to Sopore and I will make you meet the stone pelters and try to understand their grievances.”
 Referring to the recent statement of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that he was ready to take 100 steps if PDP took one step, Er Rashid said, “Now the ball is in PDP’s court and they should reciprocate,” he said. 
 “Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti should join hands for the larger interest of Kashmiri people. There is no harm in both of them going to Delhi to seek resolution of the political issues,” he added.
 PDP legislator Nizamuddin Bhat stood up on his seat and said the legislator’s (Engineer Rashid) speech is giving an impression that PDP is not willing to move ahead. “I on behalf of Mehbooba Mufti say that we are willing to move ahead but I want to ask the member (Engineer Rashid) that does he have the mandate to speak on behalf of the Chief Minister” he questioned.
 Replying to the query Er Rashid said, Omar had said it in the house and if PDP wants, he would personally meet the Chief Minister to take his consent on the issue.
 Er Rashid castigated the government for not making the recommendations of interlocutors’ report public.

Chaudhry Muhammad Ramzan
 Chaudhry Muhammad Ramzan appreciated the budget and said that it would ensure the overall development of all the three regions of the state and ameliorate the socio-economic condition of the people. He said that the tax revenue has increased considerably and the time is not far when the state will become self-reliant. He said that Cash Deposit Ratio (CDR) of Banks should be increased so that funds are made available for the development.

Prof Chaman Lal Gupta
 Prof Chaman Lal Gupta called for regularization of Agri- Technocrats who were engaged on Rehbar-e-Ziarat on pattern and have completed their five years service, promotion of private entrepreneurs to overcome the unemployment problem and setting up of hospital for mentally retarded persons.

Vikar Rasool
 Welcoming the initiative of the government for harnessing the hydel power potential in the state, Vikar Rasool said that it will make the state self-reliant in power and improve the economic health of the state also. He called for expansion of Jammu Airport and commencement of day and night flights from Srinagar Airport.

Feroz Ahmad Khan
 Feroz Ahmad Khan termed the budget as people friendly. He pleaded for involving businessmen and traders of Ladakh region in pre-budget discussion so that they can present their view points. He demanded expansion and making Kargil airport operational, concession on bank loans and special duty allowances for employees working in the region.

Hakim Muhammad Yasin
 Hakim Muhammad Yasin appreciated the budget proposals and also pin pointed some lacunas in it.  He stressed the need for exploiting the hydel power potential so that the revenue from power generation could be used for the overall development and welfare of the state. 
 He demanded equal allocation of funds and allotment of developmental projects in all constituencies, increase of manpower and release of wages to the workers engaged in PHE, PDD and R&B departments.

Charanjit Singh
 Charanjit Singh welcomed the concessions given to house-wives, industrialists, student and farming community and said that it will be beneficial for the development and well-being of the people of the state. He demanded adequate funds for road and other developmental projects being executed in the Kathua district.

Abdul Majid Wani
 Abdul Majid Wani suggested construction of road network and formation of teams at district level for exploitation of natural resources of various kinds available in the state. He demanded enhancement of honorariums of Agri-technocrats and SPOs.

Radhey Shyam
 Radhey Shyam advocated that a provision should be kept for the marriage of poor and helpless girls, equal distribution of funds, compensation to the border migrants of Rajouri and Poonch districts at par with Pallanwalla migrants, covering left out areas under RGGVY and early release of list whose interviews were conducted recently by different recruitment agencies.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 8 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 9 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST