War of words ensues between NC, PDP over Legislative Assembly Speaker’s strictures on undue publicity to house business

Srinagar, Feb 24: War of words has ensued between NC and PDP over Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather’s displeasure on the practice of MLAs giving undue publicity to notices submitted by them to the Legislative Assembly.

A day after former Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, denounced Rather’s warning to MLAs stating that “informing the public about notices, questions, and resolutions in advance promotes accountability,” NC hit back at the PDP asking  Mehbooba Mufti to rather go through the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House.

NC spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said in a post on X, “Before making uncouth remarks on J&K Assembly speaker, I would advise @MehboobaMufti to go through the rules of procedure and conduct of Business in J&K Assembly before trying to score brownie points over private members bill. This is question of sanctity and decorum of the House."

Imran cited rules 368 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the House that “no member or any other person shall give publicity to any notice regarding business of the House before it is admitted by the Speaker and circulated to members.”

Earlier a communique issued by the Legislative Assembly said that according to parliamentary practice, usage and established convention and “prevalent rules of this House, it is improper to give unwarranted publicity to the notices of Questions, Bills, Resolutions and other similar matters connected with Business of the House.”

Reacting sharply over the directive, PDP chief, Mehboob Mufti, however said, “Many significant parliamentary bills, such as the recent Waqf Bill, are debated publicly for months. Regrettably, it appears that Rathar Sahab, a seasoned politician, is imposing a form of martial law while occupying a constitutional position.”