Uproar in J-K Assembly over issue of indoor sports stadia

The construction of indoor sports stadia in select constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir today led to an embarrassing situation for the PDP-BJP government as several treasury bench members stormed the Well of the Legislative Assembly with one of them staging a walkout.
The issue was raised during the Question Hour by BJP MLA Shakti Raj Parihar who alleged that the government had ignored Doda district while allotting stadiums for different constituencies.
Parihar found support from party colleagues Rajiv Jasrotia, R S Pathania and independent MLA from Udhampur Pawan Kumar Gupta, who was a minister in the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led government last year.

Replying to the query, Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports Sunil Kumar Sharma said 12 indoor halls have been sanctioned for the state under the Prime Minister's package.
"The criteria for selection of the districts has been by and large on the basis of the non-availability of the indoor halls in these areas and the potential to generate sports activities," Sharma said.
Not satisfied with the minister's reply, said directions passed by the Speaker and assurances given to members were not being honoured.

"What is the relevance of this House then?" he said.
Jasrotia claimed that he was given an assurance that an indoor sports hall will be constructed in his Kathua constituency. He then stormed the Well of the House and sat on a dharna and was joined by Pathania, Dina Nath Bhagat (BJP) and Gupta.

As Gupta shouted slogans against the PDP-led government, the opposition members from National Conference and Congress responded to him.
"Yeh inka haal hai, hamara kya haal hoga (This is their (ruling MLAs) fate. What will be our condition)?" senior NC leader Ali Mohammad Sagar said.
Vikar Rasool of Congress said the BJP, which used to raise the bogey of discrimination against Jammu, has sold out its agenda for remaining in power.
Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh intervened in the
matter, saying the state government will take up with the Centre the issue of setting up similar facilities in other areas as well.

"It is the concern of the entire House. Sports have been ignored for the past 67 years. We will approach the Centre for including the left out areas," he said.
However, not satisfied with the statement made by Singh, Jasrotia staged a walkout and was joined by Congress MLA G M Saroori.
According to the written reply by the government, out of the 12 indoor sports halls, seven have been allotted to Kashmir Valley, three to Jammu division and two to Ladakh region.
While the indoor hall for Anantnag district has been alloted to the constituency then represented by late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, in Kathua district the facility has been given to Billawar constituency represented by Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh.

Incumbent Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is contesting the bypoll from the Anantnag seat which will be held on June 22.
Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu's Rajpora constituency has got one of two facilities sanctioned for Pulwama district. The other facility has been earmarked for Tral constituency, the hometown of 'new militancy poster boy' Burhan Wani.
In Baramulla district, the facility will be set up in Pattan constituency represented by Technical Education and Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari while Handwara segment, represented by Social Welfare Minister Sajad Gani Lone, has bagged the facility in Kupwara district.
In Budgam district, the sports hall will be set up in Soibugh area--the native village of Hizbul Mujahideen supremo Syed Salahuddin.