Speaker biased towards opposition: Sunil Sharma

Jammu, Mar 19: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Legislative Assembly and BJP MLA Sunil Kumar Sharma Wednesday accused the Speaker of demonstrating a “biased approach” towards the main opposition legislators.

He also threatened to convene a parallel assembly again if the opposition continued to remain ignored in the House.

“Today also, the NC members spoke for about 80 minutes (during debate in the House) while only 24 minutes were allocated to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members. They want to convert it (House) into the National Conference (NC) assembly,” Sharma said responding to media queries outside the House.

He alleged that the government did not want to listen to the opposition members.

“The government wants to run away from the real issues of people. They don’t want (us) to remind them of their unfulfilled poll promises. That is why they want to muzzle the voice of opposition in the House. But they are mistaken,” Sharma said.

Targeting the Speaker, he said, “We had hoped that a senior and seasoned politician was made the Speaker so he would do justice. But he comes from a party from which we cannot expect much. If they continue to run the proceedings of the House this way, this will become the House of NC only and the opposition will not be visible.”

“However, I want to make it clear that if they continue to muzzle the voice of opposition this way, we will again convene a parallel assembly here and will raise public issues in the parallel assembly,” the LoP warned.

Earlier during the House proceedings also as the debate on demands for grants for the departments under the charge of the Chief Minister, Sharma raised this issue before the Speaker.

“Yesterday we had given you a list of five (BJP) members (to participate in the debate), only three were allowed. You don’t pay attention to this side. If you continue to run this House as a one-sided affair, what is the fun for us to be here?” he told the Speaker.

Rather asked him, “Today how many members are going to speak from your party.”

“I’ve given you a list of 8-9 members,” the LoP said.

“Don’t worry, they will be given time to speak,” the Speaker assured him.

However, when the day’s proceedings ended, BJP members led by the LoP were again up complaining against the chair that all their legislators (whose names were given) were not allowed to speak.