Zulfkar, Haq, Saroori conferred with Best Legislators Award

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 6

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said today that the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has the distinction of being the most powerful Assembly in the country due to special status conferred on it by Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

Addressing a function on the lawns of the Legislature Complex today, the Chief Minister said the J&K Assembly was “the most powerful in entire country.” “Our Assembly has the power and prerogative to accept or reject any law passed by Parliament,” she said adding that this was the basic essence of Article 370.

The function had been organised in connection with conferring of Best Legislator Awards and Letter of Appreciation to the legislators for the years 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15.

The Chief Minister said it is equally true that due to the prevailing situation in Kashmir, most of the politicians have to make huge sacrifices, sometimes even risk their lives to reach this august House. “Some of the legislators have even sacrificed their lives and I pay my heartfelt tributes to them on this occasion for the blood they have shed for strengthening the democratic institutions in the state,” she said.

Speaking on the occasion, Speaker Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta felicitated the legislators who were conferred with Best Legislator awards and Letter of Appreciation. He said the House comprises mostly of newly elected legislators, as out of 87 members 58 are first-timers, who will take inspiration from their seniors in legislative business.

The Best Legislator Award for the year 2012-13 was conferred on Choudhary Zulfkar Ali (Minister for CA&PD), for the year 2013-14 it was given to Abdul Haq Khan (Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj) and for the year 2014-15 the award went to GM Saroori (MLA).

The award comprises a gold medal, citation and Rs 1 lakh cash.

The Letter of Appreciation for the year 2012-13 was given to GA Mir (former MLA), Javaid Mustafa Mir (sitting MLA), Jughal Kishore (MP) and Nazir Ahmad Gurezi (Deputy Speaker).