Upper House skips debate on controversial beef Bills

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 9

The government today skipped discussion on the controversial beef Bill in the Legislative Council citing time constraints, even as the Opposition cried “sabotage”.

A total of 10 private members’ Bills had been scheduled in the ‘list of business’, but none came up for discussion despite the Opposition demanding the timing of the House be extended.

During discussion on calling attention notices, after which the Bills were scheduled to be taken up, Congress legislator Ghulam Nabi Monga told Law Minister Basharat Bukhari that he had read the answer to his query and that he be allowed to raise a supplementary. However, the PDP and BJP MLCs insisted Bukhari to read out the entire answer.

Monga alleged that MLCs of the ruling coalition parties were buying time to avoid discussion on the Bills. “I know you are tactfully avoiding Bills…don’t try to escape,” he said.

A BJP MLC, in the meantime, raised the issue of unclean toilets in the Assembly complex, which was not listed in the business.

Meanwhile, at 1.00 pm, halfway through the discussion on calling attention notice, Legislative Council Chairman Anayat Ali adjourned the House till tomorrow citing time constraints in view of Friday prayers.

While the demand of the Opposition that another sitting of the House be conducted after the Friday prayers was not entertained, National Conference MLC Bashir Veeri said the government “sabotaged” their Bills.

He said it was unfortunate that the government was “escaping” discussion on important issues. Veeri said the NC had moved two Bills seeking amendment to the law on slaughter of bovines.

Talking to reporters later, Monga said: “Many important Bills were listed, but none came up for discussion. It is a clear case of sabotage. We could have held another sitting to discuss the Bills and other remaining business of the day.”

Pertinently, Bills against the beef ban had not come up for discussion in the Lower House on Thursday as well.