Minister, Oppn spar over macadamisation of roads

Tribune News Service

Jammu, February 2

A heated exchange of words between a PDP minister and opposition legislators on Thursday rocked the state Legislative Assembly that also witnessed the walkout of National Conference (NC) and Congress legislators over the alleged discrimination in macadamisation of roads in the state.

Naeem Akhtar, Minister for Roads and Buildings, who had a heated argument with NC legislators, blamed the opposition (NC) for creating noise on the floor of the House because he was planning to file an FIR against them for their “misdeeds” in the past.

It all began when Mubarak Gul, NC legislator, raised the pitch against the government discriminatory macadamisation in Srinagar assembly constituencies, alleging that the government had not macadamised roads in the constituencies held by opposition MLAs.

He was joined by GM Saroori, Congress legislator, who alleged that the constituencies with 25 per cent road connectivity were ignored while those having 95 per cent were preferred and roads were macadamised there.

Altaf Ahmad Wani, NC legislator, alleged the government was playing politics over macadamisation and demanded that the Chief Minister, who was in the House, should personally intervene.

Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen, PDF MLA, also questioned government’s criteria of listing road projects that were sent to the Government of India under different heads.

Ali Mohammad Sagar, another NC legislator, said the constituencies held by PDP ministers and legislators in Srinagar district were preferred for macadamisation of roads, while the segments of NC legislators had been discriminated against. “The Chief Minister’s chair is not just for benefitting the PDP workers,” he said.

Though Sunil Sharma, Minister of State for R&B, tried to mollify the agitating opposition members, he failed to satisfy them and it lead to uproar in the House. The opposition members raised slogans and staged a walkout from the House.