Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party and Communist Party of India (Marxist) members today staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over the issue of power failure in several areas of the state.
BJP members Lal Chand and Jagdish Sapolia trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans over the issue of power failure for several weeks, which occurred due to the break down of 13 transformers in their constituencies in Kathua district.
Lal Chand also sat on a dharna in the well of the House.
As Speaker Mubarak Gul tried to pacify them to return to their seats, JKNPP members led by Harshdev Singh, members of BJP and CPI(M) member M Y Tarigami protested in the house saying the state government has not done anything about the power failure in their constituencies despite several complaints.
The Congress and National Conference (NC) members, including its MLA from Poonch district Aijaz Jaan, also raised the issue of power problems.
Later, Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool in his reply said that power supply and transmission distribution system was affected and damaged at several places due to snowfall and efforts are being made to repair the systems and streamline electricity supply to the areas.
Rasool said that nearly 60 per cent of the power supply has been restored in Poonch where distribution system was disrupted by bad weather conditions.
Dissatisfied by the reply, members of JKNPP, BJP and CPI(M) staged a walkout from the House.
