PDP offers conditional support to NC in Rajya Sabha elections; CM says speaker has authority to decide on introduction of bills

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 16 (STC): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has offered conditional support to National Conference (NC) candidates in Rajya Sabha elections. The party “will support National Conference (NC) in the Rajya Sabha elections if the NC backs the PDP’s Land Bill and the Regularisation of Daily Wagers Bill in the Assembly.”
This is the condition put by PDP president Mehbooba Mufti in her response to the request of National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah seeking support to NC candidates in Rajya Sabha elections.
Hours after the response of the PDP president, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that the Speaker of Jammu & Kashmir has the authority to decide on such bills. However, he added that his party would not become a hurdle in the passage of any pro-people legislation.
He was addressing a press conference in Jammu today. He said, “I wouldn’t comment on a bill that has not yet been introduced in the House. Before a bill becomes the property of the House, it is the Speaker’s property. The Speaker decides which bills are brought before the House. Many bills are submitted, but which ones are accepted and listed through a draw of lots is not decided by either Omar Abdullah or Mehbooba Mufti. Let the bill come before the House-if it is pro-people, we will have no objection to supporting it. We will not become a hurdle.”
He further said that they are open to considering any bill introduced in the Assembly. “I wouldn’t interfere with the powers of the Speaker. I want to make it clear that if any bill comes before the House, we will not dismiss it outright-we will give it due consideration,” he added.
(Straight Talk Communications)