Jammu, Feb 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed regret over remarks he made in the Legislative Assembly on February 10 targeting BJP members during the general discussion on the J&K Budget.
With this, the standoff between the Opposition and the treasury benches came to an end. The Chief Minister also requested Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to expunge his remarks, if deemed unparliamentary, from the proceedings of the previous day.
BJP members had been protesting since morning, staging a walkout during Question Hour after protesting inside the House for nearly half an hour. They demanded that the Chief Minister appear in the House and issue an apology for his comments.
Towards the end of Question Hour, CM Omar briefly entered the House. Immediately after, he moved the listed “Bill to amend the J&K State Civil Courts Act” and then left.
BJP members returned to the House and resumed their protest, objecting to the Chief Minister’s absence and urging the Chair to direct him to retract his “unparliamentary” remarks.
The Speaker noted that BJP members had closed their case by staging a walkout. However, they resumed their protest after a brief exchange with Ministers and the Chair, sitting in the well of the House and raising slogans as the discussion on demands for grants began.
At around 12:11 pm, CM Omar re-entered the House, and BJP MLA Sham Sharma reiterated that the Chief Minister should retract his remarks, which he suggested may have been a slip of the tongue.
Responding briefly, CM Omar said, “Had they given me an opportunity to speak yesterday, I would have withdrawn my remarks. But they did not.”
He also took a dig at the absent Leader of the Opposition, accusing him of dragging the CM’s family into the controversy.
“Your field commander left, but I would not. I care about the Opposition MLAs and want them to raise issues concerning their electorate,” CM Omar said before leaving the House again. (Agencies)
