Jammu, Mar 19: Uproarious scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday after opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para claimed that his cut motion had been excluded.
The Speaker sought an apology from the legislator for misleading the people.
Soon after the Question Hour, the Speaker referred to a tweet by Para, in which he alleged that his question in the cut motion was deliberately erased.
The Speaker clarified that as per Rule 227, a cut motion must be submitted three days in advance.
However, he said that Para submitted it a few hours before the demands were to be moved through official email.
“He sent it at 11:37 pm on March 17 while the demands were to be moved on March 18,” the Speaker said. “As an educated member, you attempted to influence public and media opinion with your remarks on X. You should not have misled public opinion.”
He said: “Para should apologise.”
As Para rose from his seat to argue, NC legislator Hilal Akbar Lone intervened, urging him to address the Speaker properly.
Aam Aadmi Party MLA Mehraj Malik said that Para should not be given undue importance.
Para alleged that an official had refused to accept his cut motion.
NC MLA Altaf Kaloo demanded that Para should name the official in question.
Amid a din created by the legislators, nothing was audible in the House for some time.
Meanwhile, Peoples Conference (PC) MLA Sajad Lone insisted that Para should be given a chance to explain his position.
In an attempt to placate the agitated legislators, the Speaker urged members to maintain decorum and moved on to discussions on the demand for grants.
On Tuesday, Para in his post on X termed the government “an extension of the Governor’s Rule to ratify the August 5 move”.
“After 6 years of attacking LG’s rule, the ruling party now shamelessly defends it in the assembly. Opposition questions are ignored, and my questions in the cut motion on Law, Tourism, Culture, Estates, and GAD are deliberately erased. More answers can be obtained through the RTI Act than from this assembly. This government has zero respect for accountability and transparency,” Para posted.
