The Upper House Tuesday witnessed uproar over reservation rights as Opposition and some ruling party legislators staged walk out, accusing the government of its failure to safeguard the rights of the downtrodden.As soon as the proceedings of the Question Hour began this morning, Opposition Congress members led by its legislative party leader and MLA Leh Nawang Rigzin Jora, MLA Nobra Deldan Namgial and MLA Kargil, Asghar Ali Karbalai stormed into the Well of the House, demanding discussion over the reservation issue.Soon Opposition National Conference, MLA Poonch Javed Rana and legislators from ruling BJP including MLA Ramban Neelam Langeh, Dina Nath and PDP MLA from Karnah Raja Manzoor staged a sit-in in the Well.While speaking over the issue, Jora accused the PDP-BJP coalition of pleading the case of reservation of Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes in the state High Court.“In 2004, the late Mufti Sahab himself had passed the law on reserved category of RBA, Schedule Castes, Schedule Tribes that guaranteed their promotion in employment and other benefits. But now this government is sending lawyers to the court where it continues to lose the case. It is a serious issue,” Jora said.
“About 40 percent of the population in the state comprises reserved category. But the government under a well-planned conspiracy is trying to suppress the rights of the people of this category,” he said.He demanded a discussion on it in the House.Replying to the Opposition, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Nabi Lone said that the matter is subjuidice in Supreme Court due to which it can’t be discussed in the House.“When court gives any decision over the issue, then only it can be discussed in the House,” Lone said.Incensed by the reply, the Opposition legislators raised slogans in the Well.“Reserved category ke saath inssaf karo, reserved category ke log ke haq aur haqooq se khilawaad kiya jara hai,” they shouted.Jora said they would stage dharna against the government if it failed to preserve the rights of the reserved categories. Intervening, the Deputy Speaker Nazir Gurezi said that the House can discuss every law. “When media can discuss the issues with freedon, why can’t we discuss it in the House,” Gurezi said. Replying to it, the Minister for Rural development Abdul Haq Khan said that already three petitions regarding reservation are pending in the High Court and Supreme Court.“House can’t go beyond the jurisdiction of Supreme Court,” the minister said, adding, “till there is some final judgement we can’t discuss it,” he said. (KNS)