The budget session of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council just ended. The session gained significance as it passed the budget mandatory for running the affairs of the state for next 12 months. However like most of the sessions after JK’s Finance Minister, Haseeb Drabu passed the budget this session also became the victim of politics from all the political parties with representation in Upper and Lower Houses.
At times there was complete choas and confusion not only between the ruling coalition with opposition parties, but even coalition partners the People’s Democratic Party and BJP had many differences that got quite visible on the floor of both the Houses. The raising of slogans, walkouts and pandemonium in the house became a routine affair. At times the timely intervention of Marshalls stopped legislators for entering into fist fights.
Though important speeches were also made not only by the opposition leaders and JK chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, however some important speeches got lost in the din of protests. During most of the sessions the legislatures were compelling government to discuss the current political scenario and instead of seeking resolution of the issues or discussing the ways to tackle the situation both the legislators of opposition and ruling parties used the floor of the House for playing the galleries.
The Assembly is a place were important issues are discussed threadbare and healthy debates are held to take the state out of any choas and confusion and developmental issues are discussed, even at times ruling parties use every opportunity to placate the opposition parties so that government could make passage of important bills regarding development of the state. In JK the session is being always held in both summer and winter capitals.
However from past few years the sessions held in Srinagar were only for few days due to situation and legislators also preferred long sessions in winter capital Jammu. However, instead of discussing important issues the legislators started doing politicking at the cost of state exchequer.
However, time and again it has been proven that instead of resolving issues of common masses for which these legislators had received mandate they indulge in politics that suits their party. Nobody is against healthy criticism and floor of the House is a place where issues pertaining to masses should be discussed, however it has been seen all political parties are using this to settle political scores without showing much concern about the people who need healing touch. The JK state is passing through crucial phase and it needs mature leadership and ideas like statesmen to bring this place out of the crisis.
It has been seen that at times veteran politicians do such things which had reduced the trust on these politicians. When elections were held the leaders of all the political parties told people that once elected they will try to resolve day to day issues like Pani, Bijli and Sadaak. However once they got elected instead of raising such issues most of the legislators are raising issues which they are fully aware they couldn’t take to logical end. Still they try to rake up such issues to gain the public sympathy. The first and foremost task of the elected legislators is to resolve the issues of those people who voted them in power. For politics they can chose any other platform otherwise sanctity of the Legislative Assembly will lose which is never good for any democratic setup.
