Sidelights: Laws, laughs, lapses mark day 4 of autumn session

Srinagar, Oct 29: The fourth day of the ongoing autumn session of the J&K Legislative Assembly (LA) witnessed unusual scenes, which were a mix of laughter and concern.

During the proceedings of the House, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Abdul Rahim Rather and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah shared a smiling gesture with each other over confusion in passing a resolution.

The smiling gestures were witnessed in the House after CM Omar was apparently confused whether he had to put the bill to establish a National Law University in Kashmir, for a vote, before the House.

On this, the House witnessed laughter as the CM asked the Speaker to continue with his job.

“You have spoken on the issue, and your job is done. Now it is my job,” the Speaker told CM Omar as both shared a laugh.

A resolution was introduced by MLA Bandipora to establish a National Law University in Kashmir.

Earlier, National Conference MLA Pahagam, Muhammad Altaf Wani (Kaloo), apologised in the House for remaining absent while his name was called to speak during the Zero Hour session.

As the Zero Hour started in the House, the Speaker announced the name of the NC MLA, but he was not present in the House.

However, the NC MLA later returned to the House and was allowed to speak.

“I called your name earlier, but you were not in the House. As a special case, I am giving you one minute to speak in the House,” the Speaker told the NC MLA.

To this, the NC MLA apologised and thanked the Speaker for giving him a chance to speak.

“I’m sorry. I apologise,” the NC MLA said and started his speech in the House.

During the Zero Hour, the Speaker disallowed NC MLA Mubarak Gul from speaking in the Kashmiri language in the House saying that no translator was available in the House.

MLA Gul started his speech in Kashmiri and recalled his conversation with some local youth who raised an alarm over encroachment and illegal constructions around water bodies.

However, the Speaker stopped the MLA, saying his speech was not going on record.

“Why are you speaking in the Kashmiri language without permission? There is no translator available in the House. So, the speech is not going on the record,” the Speaker told the MLA.

During the Question Hour, the House witnessed technical snags in the sound system.

As the independent MLA Shabir Ahmad Kullay raised a supplementary question, it was found that the sound system was out of order, as his voice was not audible.

Amid this, NC MLA Abdul Majid Larmi urged the Speaker that the sound system was out of order.

The Speaker informed that there was an issue with it and was being looked into by the engineers.

“It has faced some technical snag. But engineers are looking into it. The member can use another microphone,” the Speaker said.

In the meantime, the sound system was made functional, and the MLA’s supplementary questions were audible to the House.

Later, during the last moments of Zero Hour, the entire House witnessed laughter as the Opposition benches supported the NC MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri’s resolution on employment and sought voting for it.

However, responding to the NC MLA, the Deputy CM assured that the government would work on it and urged the MLA to withdraw it.

To this, the opposition benches in voice sought voting for it, amid laughter.

Later, the resolution was dropped by voice vote amid a massive laughter shared by the treasury benches and the opposition.