Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council today witnessed unprecendented scenes as members cutting across party lines staged a walkout en masse protesting against "attacks on the dignity of the House" and not being given their "rightful privileges".
As soon as the proceedings of the House began this morning, BJP MLC Ajat Shatru Singh brought up independent MLA Sheikh Abdul Rashid's reported remarks that the Legislative Council was a "rehabilitation centre" for politicians.
"We have brought the MLA's issue to the notice of the Privilege Committee but there has been no action so far against him (Rashid). Also, the members of the House are being discriminated against and are not given their rightful privileges," Singh said.
On this, all the members -- from ruling PDP and BJP to opposition National Conference and Congress -- staged a walk-out en masse.
Responding to issues raised by the members, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti later assured the House that the government would try to create a balance between the powers and the privileges of the MLCs and the MLAs.
"It is difficult to balance it as an MLA thinks it (constituency) is his own capital, his area, but we will try to balance it without disturbing the powers and privileges of the MLA," she said.
Legislative Council chairman Inayat Ali tried to persuade the members to take their seats and listen to the ministers present there.
However, the agitating MLCs did not budge from their stance, forcing the chairman to adjourn the House for 10 minutes.
When the House resumed after the break, the Chairman told the House that the he would allow the members to speak on the issues raised by them and then the government would respond.
Minister for Education, Naeem Akhtar, who was present in the House, said he would request Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to be present in the House and reply on behalf of the government.
"We will discuss this after the Question Hour is over. I will request the Chief Minister to talk about it," he said.
The House then began normal proceedings.
After the Question Hour was over, the Chairman allowed a member each from Congress, NC, PDP and the BJP to talk about the issues.
Congress' G N Monga said the members walked out to protest against the "attacks on the dignity of the House".
"We protested because fingers are being raised against the dignity of the House. It is unfortunate that an MLA has said certain things about this House which should not have happened. We have taken the matter up with the Privilege Committee and hope there is action," Monga said.
He said the members of the legislative council were being
discriminated by the government when plans for the districts are made.
"We are not consulted when plans are made, unlike the MLAs. We are not provided an escort vehicle when we tour areas," he complained.
NC MLC Sajad Kichloo said unlike with MLAs, no officer from district administration accompanies MLCs while on official tours.
"We are never consulted and our advice is never solicited. No officer, even after writing to them, accompanies us like they accompany the MLAs," he said.
BJP MLC Vibodh Gupta also raised the matter of not being provided escorts and wireless operators.
"If we are not given full protocol as guaranteed in the Constitution, then lower it, or else, maintain its sanctity," Gupta said. He also asked the government to take serious note of the language used by Rashid.
PDP MLC Zafar Iqbal Manhas said the House was not taken seriously and asked the government to pass a legislation to do away with the Council once and for all if it was a burden on the state exchequer.
Mehbooba said there should not be any carelessness when it comes to the security of the legislators and directed the DGP to look into the issue.
She also said the hall was congested and there was a need to expand it.
