12-cylinder promise sparks uproar
CM tables Municipal Amendment Bill
SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday approved the provision of six free LPG cooking gas cylinders annually to Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families, with the announcement triggering a heated confrontation between the treasury benches and the BJP in the Legislative Assembly.
Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma announced the approval on the floor of the House, saying the necessary orders for implementation would be issued shortly.
“I want to inform this august House that the six free gas cylinder policy for AAY has got approval from the competent authority. Necessary orders for rolling out the scheme are being issued shortly,” Sharma said.
The provision fulfils a commitment made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while presenting his second Budget in February, under which six free LPG cylinders a year were proposed for AAY households across J&K.
The announcement, however, immediately triggered an uproar, with Leader of Opposition Sunil Kumar Sharma accusing the Government of reneging on the National Conference’s election promise of providing 12 free LPG cylinders.
“This is mockery of the people with whom you had made promises. You stand exposed,” the LoP said, alleging that the Government had also failed to fulfil other commitments, including free electricity.
He questioned the Government’s ability to provide even six cylinders and demanded an account of the 24 cylinders he said had been promised over the past two years.
The remarks prompted protests from National Conference MLAs and Congress members, who raised counter-slogans, while BJP legislators responded with slogans targeting the Government over electricity and LPG promises.
The disruption continued for some time before Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather intervened and asked the protesting members to take their seats.
Under the approved scheme, eligible AAY families will receive six LPG cylinders free of cost every year, aimed at reducing the cooking-fuel burden on economically vulnerable households.
Omar said the initiative would provide direct relief to the most deserving families and strengthen the Government’s focus on social welfare and support for vulnerable sections.
Meanwhile, 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.
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today rejected a Private Members’ Bill proposing to make it obligatory for the public representatives and public servants to educate their children in government educational institutions.
The Bill, moved by MLA Sheikh Khursheed Ahmad, was titled “A Bill to make it obligatory for the Public Men and Public Servants to educate their children in Government educational institutions and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto” (L.A. Private Members’ Bill No. 22 of 2025).
Minister for School Education, Sakeena Itoo, while opposing the Bill, said that the government was already taking several steps to increase enrolment in government schools, where capable and hardworking teachers were serving. She said that meetings had also been held in this regard and emphasised that such a measure could not be enforced through compulsion.
The Minister also said that legislation alone would not address the issue and emphasised that improving enrolment and strengthening government schools requires a collective effort and shared responsibility.
She urged the MLA Sheikh Khursheed to withdraw the Bill. However, he declined to withdraw the Bill.
Subsequently, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather put the Bill to vote and it was defeated by voice vote.
