JK Assembly: Protests over NHM employees, power tariff hike, daily-wager regularisation

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed noisy scenes on Monday as BJP legislators raised issues concerning National Health Mission (NHM) employees, the recent electricity tariff hike and the regularisation of daily-wage workers on the opening day of the Autumn Session.

The protests eventually led to the adjournment of the House for the day. The Assembly is scheduled to meet again on Tuesday, September 22, with government business listed for the sitting.

BJP members displayed placards inside the House seeking ‘justice’ for NHM employees, rollback of the increased power tariff and regularisation of daily wagers.

The legislators also sought government intervention on the pending concerns of NHM personnel and workers engaged on a daily-wage basis.

The BJP also objected to the prevailing electricity tariff structure and demanded withdrawal of the recent hike.

Employment, outsourcing of government work, regularisation of temporary workers and electricity charges are among the issues the opposition party has indicated it intends to raise during the session.

The protests disrupted the proceedings after the obituary references at the beginning of the session. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather repeatedly urged the protesting members to return to their seats and allow the House to proceed with its business.

According to reports from the House, the Speaker directed that the protest and related demonstrations should not form part of the official proceedings or be reported.

The Autumn Session, which began in Srinagar on Monday, is expected to see discussions on employment, public services, electricity, outsourcing, reservation and other issues concerning Jammu and Kashmir.

The opening proceedings also witnessed other opposition interventions, with members from different parties raising issues including the restoration of statehood and employment-related concerns.