Srinagar, Nov 15: The controversy surrounding the alleged forest land grab by the Minister for PHE and Flood Control Taj Mohiuddin is refusing to die down, with legislators from the opposition parties in the Legislative Council Thursday threatening to bring privilege motion against Taj for using “contemptuous remarks” against the LC Chairman Amrit Malhotra. The State Congress faction led by Prof Saifuddin Soz also accused Taj of using “indecent language against the chair.”
In a hard-hitting statement issued from the winter capital, the legislators from Peoples Democratic Party and Panthers Party accused Taj of using “indecent and unparliamentary language against the chairman.” “It reflects frustration and indecency on his part,” they said.
On Wednesday Taj had said that he will press Congress High Command to bring a no- confidence motion against Malhotra for “trying to weaken the coalition government.”
“Such irresponsible and senseless person should not be allowed to hold on to the chair for long as it will be an endorsement of his illegal and unconstitutional act,” Taj had said.
While terming Taj’s utterances as a “mixed bag of lies, contradictions, false statements and suppression of facts”, the Opposition members castigated the minister for “undermining the authority and importance of the House.”
“By using the foul mouthed and ill-bred expressions [sic], Taj has brought disrepute to the institution of a legislator.  We have taken strong exception to the contemptuous remarks made by Taj during a press conference in Jammu yesterday and it was a 'Chor Machae Shor' drill,” the legislators said.
“We are considering bringing a motion for breach of privilege against Taj for his contemptuous remarks against the institution," they added.
Pertinently, dissolution of the House Panel probing the land grab charges is turning out to be major controversy in Jammu and Kashmir with opposition parties accusing National Conference and Congress of “sabotaging” the probe against the sitting minister.
On past Monday, Malhotra disbanded the panel that was constituted last month in wake of allegations of forest land grab against Taj. Malhotra had put onus on National Conference (NC) for disbanding of the panel as, according to him, pullout of the party’s legislators from the House Committee rendered it infructuous.
But National Conference rebutted his claims saying that the party had never suggested quashing of the Committee.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders owing allegiance to State President Prof Saifuddin Soz also castigated Taj.
In a statement, MLC and Spokespersons of  PCC  Ravinder Kumar Sharma termed the remarks of Taj as “unparliamentary and highly indecent”.
In a statement, Sharma  said that presiding officers of the Legislative Houses are always referred to with respect and dignity because they represent the highest constitutional institutions in Parliamentary democracy.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Nov 2012 00:00:00 IST