We bring politics into everything: CM Omar

Srinagar, Oct 23: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Thursday, sought reform in the conduct of the obituary references in the Legislative Assembly and said that the House should adopt the procedure of the Parliament for it.

Speaking during the obituary references in the Legislative Assembly of the autumn session, CM Omar said that being politicians, every member brings politics in obituary references.

“It is our trait that we bring politics into everything, and the obituary reference session is not an exception,” he said. “So I suggest that we must change the method of conducting obituary references. The Speaker can consider my suggestion, which can save the time of the House.”

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather later said that CM Omar’s proposed suggestion to follow the parliamentary convention of the House observing a two-minute silence in honour of the departed souls during obituary references instead of long speeches would be thought about, but stressed that the arguments carry “significant weight.”

Meanwhile, CM Omar paid rich tributes to former J&K Governor Satya Pal Malik, former NC leader Ghulam Muhammad Shaheen, and other political leaders.

“All of them have contributed towards society in one way or the other. They were elected to this House or Parliament and served the people. We must learn from them,” he said.

The CM said none of the former leaders and those present in the House were angels, and there was a possibility of committing a mistake intentionally or unintentionally.

“We are not angels. The leaders who are not among us today have contributed a lot to society,” he said.

Paying tributes to former Governor Satya Pal Malik, CM Omar termed him a leader with experience, saying he did not only serve as Governor in J&K, but in Bihar, Goa, and Odisha as well.

“He also served as a union minister,” he said.

Without referring to heated arguments witnessed in the House during the obituary reference of Malik, the CM said, “Whatever he did, he must have acted on a belief that he is doing good.”

Paying tributes to former NC leader G M Shaheen, he recalled his journey from the youth wing to higher ranks of the party.

“We all talk about the honesty of former leaders, but G M Shaheen was a brave leader. I remember how he remained available for the party all along his life,” CM Omar said.

However, he regretted the omission of former legislator Muhammad Sultan Panditpori in the list of obituary references and sought an explanation from the officers responsible for it.

“The name has been omitted due to negligence of officers at some level. It is not acceptable at all. I believe that the Chief Secretary must have taken cognisance of the matter. An explanation must be sought from the officers for it,” the CM said.

“It was said that some districts do not send proper information to the Assembly. I urge the Chief Secretary to look into the matter and take action on it,” he said.

Earlier, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather censured the district administration of Kupwara for not sending updated information to the House, due to which the name of former MLA Langate, Muhammad Sultan Panditpori, was missing from the obituary references.

“The Kupwara district administration has failed to inform the Assembly Secretariat about it, which speaks volumes about the callous approach of the administration,” he said.

Later, CM Omar said the arrest of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik was unjustified and he should be released and allowed to attend the House.

“Not all, but most legislators are worried about his arrest. There are some MLAs who are happy with his arrest. But he has not used any such language or acted in such a way that he should be put behind bars,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Assembly session.