Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 30
Jammu and Kashmir lawmakers from the ruling National Conference (NC) and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) exchanged heated remarks in the Assembly on Wednesday over the withdrawal of bills seeking higher salaries for legislators and ministers.
The disruption began after NC legislator Altaf Ahmad Wani, known as Kaloo, raised the issue at the start of the proceedings, accusing the BJP of opposing the salary hike for political reasons.
Wani said the BJP had signed documents related to the bills but opposed them because its members were unhappy about not receiving a proposed salary of 300,000 rupees.
The bills, which sought to increase the salaries of legislators and ministers, were withdrawn on Tuesday after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he would pursue them only if they received unanimous support.
The BJP had opposed the proposed increases, calling on the government to instead address the concerns of daily wagers, need-based casual workers and other contractual employees.
BJP legislator Satish Sharma rejected Wani’s allegations, saying the party had not rejected the bills but had called for the proposed funds to be redirected towards workers and other employees.
“We said use these funds for daily wagers, need-based casual workers, and other employees under consolidated schemes,” Sharma said, urging the NC not to politicise the issue.
The exchange triggered an uproar in the House, with members from both sides raising objections and trading accusations for several minutes.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened, telling Wani that the matter had already been settled on Tuesday and questioning the need to reopen it.
“This issue was closed yesterday. What is the point of taking it up again?” Rather said.
The House subsequently resumed Question Hour.
