Ration scarcity, ‘irregularities’ in BPL lists rocks Assembly

Greater Kashmir

SYED AMJAD SHAH

Jammu, Mar 2: The shortage of ration supply and alleged irregularities in Below Poverty Line (BPL) lists across Jammu and Kashmir rocked assembly on Tuesday forcing Speaker Muhammad Akbar Lone to allow half hour discussion over the issue.
The opposition targeted the minister for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Qamar Ali Akhoon on alleged scarcity of ration across the state and ‘irregularities’ in the issuance of BPL list.
Replying to the clubbed questions of PDP MLA Peerzada Mansoor Ahmed, Prof Gharu Ram Bhagat and Bharat Bhushan, Akhoon said the re-verification of BPL lists in each district was being carried out by authorized Committees, headed by respective DDCs.
Admitting the cases of irregularities in BPL list have come to his notice, Akhoon said the government had already constituted a committee for the re-verification of the lists.
The opposition members from NPP, BJP and PDP took strong notice of the admission by the minister about the irregularity and started protest.
Replying to a supplementary, Akhoon said the government has decided to enhance the ration to 50 kgs against the existing scale of 35 kgs per ration card.

TARIGAMI, ZULFIKAR STAGE WALKOUTS
The assembly witnessed at least two walkouts by the opposition members after government failed to `satisfy’ them on different issues.
Senior CPI (M) leader and MLA Yousaf Tarigami’s raised the issue of inadequate availability of electricity in district Kulgam though his calling attention notice.
He protested the ‘unsatisfactory reply’ of the minister and said that the reply was nothing but jugglery of figures. Tarigami torn the written reply and walked out of the house
Choudhary Zulfikar Ali was second to stage a walkout after CAPD Minister Qamar Ali Akhoon failed to satisfy him. He had raised the issue of inadequate supply of ration in tehsil Budhal of district Rajouri.

AZAD’S NAME FIGURES IN ASSEMBLY
Union Health Minister and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad figured in state legislative assembly, here on Tuesday, leading to a war of words between BJP and Congress. Raising his concern over the deteriorating condition of District Hospital in Kishtwar, BJP MLA Chaman Lal Gupta said the government was indifferent towards the area despite the fact that it is the home constituency of union health minister.