Srinagar, Feb 03: Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Abdul Rahim Rather said that he had rejected the amendments submitted by Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone on Article 370, statehood, and reservation rationalisation.
After the Question Hour, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Lone questioned the Speaker for disallowing amendments on Article 370, Article 35A, statehood, and reservation rationalisation.
“My two amendments have not been accepted. They are very important amendments,” Lone said.
The Speaker explained that he had disallowed the amendment on Article 370 because the Rules prohibit discussion on matters that have already been debated or on which the House has already taken a decision.
“As far as the special position is concerned, this House has already passed a resolution in the first session,” he said.
The Speaker remarked that he would inform Lone of the reasons. “I will tell you the reasons. It is an issue between me and you. You come to me and I will tell you the reasons,” he said.
Lone, however, asked the Speaker to reveal the reasons in the House, saying, “It is a public matter.”
On the issue of statehood, the Speaker said that its restoration was outside the competence of the Union Government. “You should bring amendments on the matters on which the state government is competent to decide,” he announced.
Lone challenged the ruling, stating that he was not asking for a law to be passed on statehood but merely expressing an intention regarding its restoration.
“This is my understanding of the rules. If you have a better understanding of rules, you convince me and I will revise my ruling,” the Speaker told Lone. (KNO)
