PDP’s Para says govt walking into ‘debt trap’, BJP stages walkout
Jammu, Feb 09: The Legislative Assembly on Monday witnessed noisy scenes over a Government of India (GoI) scheme for infrastructure development through interest-free loans, after Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para alleged that the Union Territory was walking into a debt trap by implementing the scheme.
Participating in the budget discussion, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Para, who represents the Pulwama assembly segment, accused the government of pushing Jammu & Kashmir into a debt trap through the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).
“This is the most dangerous scheme you are implementing after the abrogation of Article 370. You have been given the mandate to preserve Jammu & Kashmir and to reclaim it, but instead you are putting the entire region on sale,” Para claimed.
He further argued that SASCI is not a grant. “Who will repay the loan after 50 years? We are mortgaging Jammu & Kashmir. SASCI means the destruction of Jammu & Kashmir. We are selling Jammu & Kashmir for petty loans,” he alleged, demanding a discussion on the scheme in the House.
Para’s remarks were objected to by National Conference (NC) legislators, with Altaf Wani, Majid Larmi, and Ghulam Mohiuddin standing up to counter him.
Amid the verbal duel between NC and PDP members, BJP legislators rose in protest against the Chair for not being given time to speak. Shouting slogans against both NC and PDP, BJP members staged a walkout from the House.
Presiding over the session, NC leader Mubarak Gul assured the BJP members that they would be given time, but his intervention failed to prevent their walkout.
As the verbal duel continued between NC and PDP legislators, MLA Langate Sheikh Khursheed accused NC’s Altaf Wani of preventing others from speaking in the House, which led to an exchange of heated arguments between them.
Altaf rushed towards him but was restrained by the Assembly’s watch and ward staff.
Amid the chaos, the Speaker adjourned the House at 1:12 PM until 2:30 PM. (KNO)
