Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Minister Satish Sharma on Thursday informed the assembly that the government has approved six free gas cylinders for AAY families in the Union territory, an announcement that triggered noisy scenes with the opposition BJP accusing it of reneging on its promise of providing 12 cylinders.
“I want to inform the House that the six free gas cylinder scheme has got approval of authority concerned. Details will be shared shortly,” Sharma, the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, said.
While the announcement was welcomed by the treasury benches by thumping of desks, the opposition BJP members shouted slogans against the government, leading to noisy scenes.
“This is cheating. The ruling party had promised 12 free cylinders,” the BJP members said.
“The government has promised 12 free cylinders to all households. This six cylinders is a ‘dhoka’ (cheating). You have cheated in the name of cylinders, electricity and rations,” Leader of the Opposition, Sunil Sharma, said.
He accused the government of misleading” the poor.
“How long will this continue?” he questioned, as the ruckus continued.
The noisy arguments between the treasury and the opposition benches continued for some time, but later, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather restored order in the House and took up the remaining business for the day.
Antodaya Anna Yojna (AAY) scheme is for the poorest of the poor families.
Meanwhile, soon after the announcement, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the initiative would provide direct relief to the most deserving households and strengthen the government’s commitment to public welfare.
“This key initiative aims to extend direct relief to the most deserving households, ensuring a dignified life for vulnerable sections and reinforcing the government’s commitment to social justice and public welfare,” the chief minister said.
The initiative was announced by the Chief Minister while presenting his second Budget as Finance Minister in February this year, wherein he had proposed six free LPG cylinders annually for AAY households across Jammu and Kashmir, an official press release informed.
The provision will extend direct assistance to AAY families across Jammu and Kashmir, helping ease their household expenditure on cooking fuel and providing additional support to economically vulnerable households, it said.
Assembly rejects bill seeking compulsory government schooling for children of public servants
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday rejected a Private Member’s Bill that sought to make it mandatory for public representatives and government employees to educate their children in government schools.
The Bill, introduced by MLA Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad, proposed compulsory enrolment of the children of public servants and elected representatives in government educational institutions.
Opposing the Bill, School Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said the government was already taking measures to improve enrolment in government schools and strengthen the education system.
She told the House that government schools had capable and dedicated teachers and that the administration had been holding meetings to address enrolment-related issues. However, she said such a measure could not be implemented through compulsion.
The minister argued that legislation alone would not resolve the issue and stressed that improving enrolment and enhancing the quality of government schools required collective efforts and shared responsibility.
Itoo urged Sheikh Khursheed to withdraw the Bill, but the legislator declined.
The Bill was subsequently put to a voice vote by Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather and was defeated by the House.
CM introduces Bill to amend J&K Municipal Act, 2000 in Assembly
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the Housing and Urban Development portfolio, today introduced a Bill in the ongoing Autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000.
The Jammu and Kashmir Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2026 (L.A. Bill No. 10 of 2026) has already been published in an extraordinary issue of the Official Gazette.
