SRINAGAR, NOV 08: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Friday adopted the Motion of Thanks for the Lieutenant Governor’s address delivered to the newly constituted assembly on November 4.
The motion was moved by MLA, Baramulla, Javid Hassan Baig, and seconded by MLA, Thanamandi, Muzaffar Iqbal Khan. The motion was adopted through a voice vote on the final day of the session.
The Motion of Thanks, adopted at the end of the discussion, read, “That the Members of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, assembled in this Session, are deeply grateful to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir for the Address which he has been pleased to deliver to Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on November 4, 2024.”
Addressing the House, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather noted the success of the House, pointing out that the Lieutenant Governor mentioned the “restoration of statehood and constitutional guarantees” to Jammu and Kashmir in his address.
He further announced that workshops would be held for the guidance of new members, aiming to improve their skills and enable them to better represent the aspirations of the people.
Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma emphasized that the government should be judged by its actions for the people. “We are committed to fulfilling the promises made in our manifesto,” he said, urging all members to work as a united family for the betterment of society.
MLA Javid Hassan Baig, who moved the motion, reiterated the legal responsibility of the assembly to provide good governance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, who seconded the motion, praised the Lieutenant Governor’s inclusive address, highlighting its focus on health, education, and other developmental aspects, including the mention of “restoration of full statehood and constitutional guarantees.”
MLA Nizam Uddin Bhat (Bandipora) expressed commitment to raising the people’s voice in the Assembly and emphasized various developmental issues like employment, highways, and health infrastructure. MLA Rafiq Ahmad Naik (Tral) acknowledged progress on development fronts but emphasized that more needs to be done for the people.
MLA Mehraj Malik (Doda) expressed hope for the swift restoration of statehood and discussed the need for meeting the developmental needs of the people. MLA Khurshid Ahmad Sheikh (Langate) welcomed the LG’s focus on enhancing infrastructure in schools and public institutions.
MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami (Kulgam) highlighted employment issues and urged the government to fill vacancies in government departments at the earliest. MLA Sajad Gani Lone (Handwara) urged that the Assembly should not be remembered as one that betrayed the people’s will.
Other members raised concerns about the regularisation of daily wagers and raised the issue of high electricity tariffs, urging that locals should benefit from the region’s natural resources. They also demanded the transfer of power projects and better job opportunities for locals in NHPC projects. Additionally, there was a call for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for government employees.
The legislators condemned recent violence and emphasized the need for collective efforts towards a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir. The Assembly had convened for a five-day session, and the House was adjourned sine die by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
