Opposition stages walkout from J-K Assembly

They grilled the state government over scarcity of ration and failure to implement the Food Security Act

A united opposition today staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, after it grilled the state government over scarcity of ration and failure to implement the Food Security Act.

During the Question Hour, Congress member G M Saroori sought reply from the government about enactment of the Food Security Act in the state to provide ration to the consumers at par with the rest of the country.

Replying to his question, Minister In-charge for Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) Vikar Rasool informed the House that National Food Security Act 2013 has been passed by the Government of India for its implementation in whole of the country, including Jammu and Kashmir, and the same is under consideration by the state government.

He said CAPD is providing ration to erstwhile Doda district on the basis of 2001 census and since Food Ministry is not allocating the food grain quota on the basis of 2011 census, the department is not in a position to provide ration as per 2011 census.

Saroori contradicted the Minister and said there has been food scarcity in his area and protested providing of food as per the 2001 census.

Unsatisfied the reply, Saroori staged a walkout. Later, the members of the opposition, including PDP, JKNPP, BJP and JSM stood up at their places and sought the reply from the government about food scarcity in most of the areas of the state.

They lashed out at the government for not even providing quota of ration as per the 2001 census. Instead of 35 kgs of ration to be provided, the government is providing only 20 kgs of rations, the members alleged.

They resorted to slogans like 'bhashan nahi ration chahiye' (we do not want speeches, we want ration).

Amid protests and sloganeering - that created noisy scenes as some of the members tried to march towards the Well of the House and prevented by the marshals, the opposition demanded a reply from the government.