Jammu, Feb 10: A pandemonium broke out during Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s speech in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Tuesday when the BJP members objected to some of his remarks and demanded an apology.
Winding up a discussion on the Union Territory’s budget presented on February 6, Omar defended the government’s fiscal roadmap, saying that the budget was realistic, responsible and focused on welfare, employment generation and strengthening of rural economy.
Speaking on the recent Indo-US trade deal, the CM said it was detrimental to the interests of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also made some remarks against the BJP members, who repeatedly disrupted his speech.
The BJP legislators then stood up and assembled in the front row, terming Omar’s remarks “unparliamentary”. They raised slogans demanding an apology.
Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, who tried to persuade the members to take their seats, later informed the BJP MLAs that their protest will not be recorded.
As the pandemonium continued, the Speaker adjourned the house for the day.
Talking to reporters, Omar said, “Had they (BJP members) allowed me to speak, I would have withdrawn my words myself. I was ready to withdraw them and say the same thing in a different manner. But they did not let me speak.”
“There is no question of offering an apology now. What has been said is already on record. Had they allowed me even a second to speak, I was standing there to say that fine, I would withdraw those words and put the same point differently. But since they did not allow me to speak, there is no question of apologising,” Omar said.
He also asked whom he was expected to apologise to, alleging that those “lecturing” in the Assembly about the nation and the Constitution could not even sit through the entire Republic Day function on January 26.
“The Leader of Opposition (Sunil Sharma), who teaches us lessons on patriotism, I was sitting right next to him. He could not remain seated for the entire duration. At the half-way mark, you (Sharma) got up and left. And then you come here to lecture us on nationalism,” the CM said.
The LoP strongly condemned the CM’s remarks and termed it a “black day” in history of J&K Assembly proceedings.
He demanded an unconditional apology from the CM and warned that the BJP members won’t allow functioning of the house till CM apologises.