3 hrs ago
Speaker Defends Seven-Day J&K Session Amid Opposition Criticism
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly is preparing to meet on September 21.
The meeting is planned to last seven working days.
Opposition leader Sunil Sharma says this is too short.
He wants the Assembly to meet for 30 days so lawmakers can discuss public problems.
These problems include electricity, water, jobs, corruption and roads.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather says the schedule is reasonable and focused on government business.
He also says Jammu and Kashmir holds more annual sittings on average than many other legislatures.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah supports the schedule and says it shows the government is taking legislative work seriously.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s autumn session is scheduled to begin on September 21 and run for seven working days.
Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma called the schedule a “mockery of the people” and demanded a full 30-day session.
Sharma said a longer session was needed to debate electricity, water, unemployment, corruption and roads.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather defended the schedule, saying Jammu and Kashmir averages 28 annual sittings against a national average of 24.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the seven-day calendar showed a serious commitment to legislative work and rejected speculation of National Conference divisions.
- Who
- Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and opposition leader Sunil Sharma are the main figures involved.
- What
- A dispute has developed over the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly’s planned seven-day autumn session.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, with Rather speaking to the media at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar.
- When
- The session is scheduled to begin on September 21; Sharma criticized the schedule on September 15 and Rather responded on September 16.
- Why
- Sharma wants more time for debate and accountability, while Rather and Abdullah say the shorter session is focused and consistent with legislative practice.
Opposition Criticism
Speaker and Government Defense
Length of the session
Opposition Criticism
Sunil Sharma says seven working days are inadequate and has demanded a 30-day session.
Speaker and Government Defense
Abdul Rahim Rather says a long session would serve no purpose and that the autumn session is traditionally short.
Legislative accountability
Opposition Criticism
Sharma says the short schedule is a “mockery of the people” and could allow the government to evade accountability.
Speaker and Government Defense
Rather says the session will be business-oriented and include government business and private members’ initiatives.
Comparison with other assemblies
Opposition Criticism
The opposition argues that Jammu and Kashmir needs sufficient time to address public concerns through debate.
Speaker and Government Defense
Rather points to Jammu and Kashmir’s average of 28 annual sittings and cites shorter autumn sessions in several other states, including a one-day session in Assam.
Key facts
- Session start
- September 21
- Planned duration
- Seven working days
- Opposition demand
- A full 30-day session
- Speaker
- Abdul Rahim Rather
- Leader of the Opposition
- Sunil Sharma
- Annual sitting comparison
- Jammu and Kashmir averages 28 sittings annually, compared with a national average of 24
- Issues cited by the opposition
- Electricity, water supply, unemployment, corruption and road infrastructure
Quotes
Abdul Rahim Rather
Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
“There will be no purpose in a long session. We have to keep it business-oriented.”
republicworld.com
“Ask the LoP about Assam. He should answer this.”
republicworld.com
Sources
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