Jammu, Feb 27: On Thursday, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather appealed to representatives of all political parties and independent legislators to work together during the approaching budget session, scheduled to begin on March 3, to enhance the productivity of the Assembly.
While leading an All-Party Meeting (APM) ahead of the session, the Speaker underscored the importance of dialogue, coordination, and consensus-building for seamless legislative activities.
This marks the inaugural budget session of the Omar Abdullah-led National Conference government, which came into power in October last year, ending a six-year period of central governance.
The last budget session occurred in 2018 under the PDP-BJP administration in the former state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was divided into two Union Territories in August 2019 following the abrogation of Article 370.
During the meeting, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, BJP member Surjeet Singh Slathia, National Conference’s Mubarak Gul, Congress’s G A Mir, CPI(M)’s Mohd Yousuf Tarigami, PDP’s Waheed ur Rehman Parra, and independent legislator Muzaffar Iqbal Khan were present, as noted by an official spokesperson.
In his introductory comments, the Speaker highlighted the necessity for dialogue, collaboration, and consensus to ensure effective assembly proceedings.
He encouraged all political representatives to actively participate in discussions and debates, emphasizing the crucial role of MLAs in bringing public welfare issues to light during the session.
“The budget session is a vital period for policy discussions and financial planning. I urge all of you and your members to engage in meaningful debates, maintain the decorum of the House, and work together for the common good of our people in Jammu and Kashmir,” Rather stated.
The Speaker also emphasized the significance of Question Hour, urging legislators to take full advantage of this opportunity to hold the government accountable.
“Question Hour is a key mechanism for ensuring government accountability. Legislators must use this time wisely to raise public concerns and demand clear responses,” he explained.
He called upon all political entities to maintain effective coordination throughout the session, asserting that the House’s productivity hinges on the cooperation between the opposition and the government in addressing the issues faced by the public.
During the meeting, Sharma remarked that public concerns should be highlighted during the assembly sessions, which can only be achieved through disruptions being minimized.
He pointed out that the credibility of MLAs is at stake during the House proceedings, thus members should be attuned to public issues and prioritize accountability over disruptions.
Sharma assured the Speaker that his party’s legislators would strive for smooth operations of the House.
INC’s Mir, while addressing the gathering, stated that Question Hour, being crucial for governmental accountability, must not be disrupted.
Tarigami stressed that true government accountability can only be achieved through orderly House proceedings and called for collaboration between the government and the opposition for productive sessions.
NC Legislator Gul added that public concerns need to be emphasized during the assembly discussions, as legislators serve as representatives of the people during these sessions.
PDP’s Parra and independent legislator Khan requested equitable time for all MLAs when presenting public issues during House proceedings.
The Speaker assured all parties that their concerns and suggestions would be taken into account for fair and impartial House proceedings.
He concluded that this constructive meeting has laid the foundation for a successful budget session.
