Speaker's allegations against Dy CM triggers opposition's walkout

Breach of Privileges

JAMMU: Rare scenes were witnessed inside the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday when Custodian of House, Speaker LA Kavinder Gupta today blamed Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, his colleague in BJP, for breaching his privileges and protocol, triggering a joint walkout by main opposition National Conference, along with Congress, and legislators of CPI (M) and PDF legislator. Minutes after the speaker revealed how his security protocol was breached and was still waiting for a report from the authorities concerned, the opposition staged a brief walkout from the assembly as MLAs, cutting across party lines, raised the issue of breach of privileges and protocol of Custodian of House and demanded government's intervention.
On Wednesday, Speaker made this startling revelation while the legislators from the ruling PDP-BJP coalition and opposition, NC, Congress and other independent legislators were discussing in the Legislative Assembly various incidents of their own breach by the government officials and demanding a debate on the special privileges of the legislators from both houses, LA and LC. The drama unfolded when independent MLA from Udhampur Pawan Gupta was speaking on the issue.
Speaking on the grants of the Parliamentary Affairs, Haj and Auqaf Department, Gupta told the Assembly that in April last year, he was made to sit with public during the inauguration of the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in violation of the set protocol.
Pawan Gupta said that he was barred from sharing dais with the Prime Minister due to
pressure from top State BJP leaders, adding that he came to know from the former Chief Secretary BR Sharma that BJP pressurized Sharma to not allow Gupta share dais with the PM.
Referring to BJP MLA from Chenani, Dina Nath Bhagat who had claimed that a government official didn't allow him to his office on Monday, Gupta said, "I pity these BJP legislators who are now voicing concern over breach of their privilege in LA. Where were you when I was not allowed to sit with the PM?"
Before Gupta could conclude his speech, Speaker also narrated his own ordeal about how, on several occasions, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh breached his privilege.
Gupta said that on several occasions, Deputy Chief Minister's cavalcade cuts through his cavalcade in violation of the protocol.
"I had written to the SSP Jammu as how can the vehicles of Deputy Chief Minister break his protocol and sought a report."
"I have not received the response till date," he said.
Concerned over the Speaker's allegations, all the NC, Congress leaders, CPI (M) legislator, MY Tarigami and PDF legislator, Hakim Yasin came to the well and criticized PDP-BJP government for not respecting the constitutional chairs.
Amid sloganeering against the government and in support of the speaker, the opposition later staged a joint walkout from the House in protest with the legislators mocking at the Mehbooba Mufti government for not respecting the constitutional chairs.
"We walked out in support of the speaker and for our rights," Congress legislature party leader Nawag Rigzin Jora said.
"The speaker is the custodian of the MLA's rights and if he himself is disappointed for breach of his own protocol, then god save this assembly and the state," Jora said.
Parliamentary Affairs minister A R Veeri assured the House that the matter would be probed.
Earlier, CPI(M) legislator M Y Tarigami raised the issue of non-cooperation of ministers and various government officials to the communications for redressal of issues.