Regional discrimination issues dominate Kashmir assembly

Saturday March 26, 2011 07:26:06 PM, IANS

Jammu: The issues of regional discrimination once again rocked the Jammu and Kashmir assembly Saturday -- this time with opposition members from the Kashmir Valley alleging diversion of development funds meant for the valley to Jammu.

The issue flared up when Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar said that an amount of Rs.30 crore under the Central Roads Funds was diverted to Jammu region because there was a fear of the funds getting lapsed.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party leaders who raised this issue wanted to know why it had happened.

PDP president and party's legislature party leader Mehbooba Mufti said "such violation had hurt the development in Srinagar and other parts of the valley".

Sagar tried to convince the opposition that there would be adequate compensation for the diversion of funds, but the opposition staged a walk out.

Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party leader Harshdev Singh then questioned the "dual policy" of the state government. "If the Valley is being compensated then why is Jammu, which has been suffering perennial discrimination at the hands of Kashmir, not being compensated by the state government."

He cited the Finance Commission report which had brought out the fact that Jammu region has suffered discrimination in allocation of funds in 28 out of 29 sectors.

"Jammu, too should be compensated on the same analogy," Harshdev Singh said while talking to media persons outside the assembly.

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Picture of the Day

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in a meeting with the Imam-e-Haram, Makkahtul Mukerrema, Fazilatus Shaikh Dr. Abdur Rahman Abdul Aziz al Sudais, in New Delhi on March 24, 2011. Dr Sudais is in India on a historic three day visit.

(Photo: Shivraj