The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed a second consecutive day of uproar on Wednesday as members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) walked out of the House, demanding an apology from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his alleged “unparliamentary” remarks against them.
Soon after the House assembled, BJP legislator Sham Lal Sharma stood up and insisted that the Chief Minister either apologise or that the Speaker issue a statement in the absence of the Leader of the House, news agency PTI reported.
Abdullah briefly entered the Assembly, moved a bill, and left shortly thereafter, even as BJP members continued their protest. After the Chief Minister’s exit, Sham Lal Sharma questioned Speaker Abdul Rahim, asking why the Leader of the House had “run away”.
The Speaker responded that once the BJP had staged a walkout earlier, the matter was considered closed. “Now why are you reviving the issue again? It cannot be revived,” Rahim said.
Sharma countered by asking how long the Chief Minister would continue to avoid the BJP in the House. The Speaker then asked whether the BJP intended to stage another walkout, which triggered intense sloganeering by Opposition members.
Speaker Abdul Rahim urged the BJP legislators to allow Question Hour to proceed and suggested they raise the issue when the Chief Minister was present in the House.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo accused BJP members of also using unparliamentary language, particularly against Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary. Choudhary suggested that the Chair examine all alleged unparliamentary remarks made by both sides, expunge them from the record, and allow proceedings to continue smoothly.
However, Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma rejected the proposal and reiterated the BJP’s demand for an apology.
Sharma later led the BJP members in a walkout, raising slogans such as “Derogatory sarkar haye haye, unparliamentary sarkar haye haye” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”. BJP MLAs also entered the well of the House, staged a sit-in protest, and displayed placards demanding an apology from the Chief Minister.
What triggered the row?
The controversy stems from remarks made by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday while responding to a discussion on the Union Territory’s budget. He expressed concerns that the proposed India-US trade deal could adversely impact Jammu and Kashmir’s horticulture sector.
“Few members praised the US trade deal here, but I am still trying to understand how it will benefit J&K. You (the BJP government) may have safeguarded Kerala’s seafood industry, but allowing zero-duty access to tree nuts and dry fruits from the US will affect our walnut and almond growers,” Abdullah said.
He added that the deal guarantees zero-duty access to US fruits and remarked that at least apples should have been safeguarded. “This is purely a sauda (deal),” he said.
The Chief Minister also made remarks directed at BJP members following repeated disruptions during his speech, prompting BJP MLAs to demand an apology.
Later, speaking to reporters, Abdullah ruled out apologising. “I was willing to withdraw and rephrase my words if I had been allowed to speak at that time, but I was not given the opportunity. It is now on record. When they did not let me speak, there was no need to apologise,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma described Tuesday’s proceedings as a “black chapter” and alleged that the Chief Minister had “crossed the line of ethics and morality”. He asserted that BJP MLAs would not allow the House to function until Abdullah withdraws his remarks and tenders an unconditional apology. (Agencies)
