The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly witnessed widespread ruckus for a day on Wednesday as members of the Bharatiya Janata Party walked out of the House in protest, demanding an apology from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his “unparliamentary” remarks against them.
As the House assembled, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma stood up and demanded an apology from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. (HT/ANI)As the House assembled, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma stood up and demanded that Abdullah should apologize or the speaker should issue a statement in the absence of the House leader, news agency PTI reported.
Abdullah, however, made a brief appearance in the Assembly, moved a bill and promptly left the premises even as BJP members continued to protest.
After the Chief Minister left, BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma asked Speaker Abdul Rahim why the Parliament leader “ran away”.
The Speaker told Sharma that when the BJP staged a walkout, the matter was ‘closed’. “Now, why are you reviving the issue again? It cannot be revived,” Rahim said.
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Sharma asked how long the Chief Minister would avoid the BJP in the House. The speaker questioned whether the leaders would stage another walkout, which was followed by loud chants from the opposition.
Speaker Abdul Rahim also tried to convince BJP leaders to allow the question-and-answer session, asking to take up the matter if the chief minister is present in the House.
Meanwhile, state health minister Sakina Itu accused BJP members as well of using unparliamentary language, especially against Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Chowdhury.
Chowdhury suggested that the Chair check all unparliamentary words used in the House by both sides, strike them from the record and allow the proceedings to continue without interruption.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Sunil Sharma, however, rejected Chowdhury’s suggestion and did not budge from the party’s demands.
Sharma later led a walkout by BJP members, chanting “Bharat Mata ki Jai” as well as “Disgraceful government hai hai, unparliamentary government hai hai”.
While demanding an apology from CM Abdullah, BJP leaders even jumped into the well of the House, staged a sit-in and carried placards demanding an apology.
What was Omar Abdullah’s ‘comment’?Earlier on Tuesday, during a discussion on the union territory’s budget, CM Omar Abdullah had said that the Indo-US trade deal would adversely affect one of Jammu and Kashmir’s economic mainstays – horticulture.
“Several members have appreciated the US trade agreement here, but I am still trying to understand how it will benefit Jammu and Kashmir. You (BJP government) have protected Kerala’s seafood industry, but allowing zero-duty access to tree-nuts and dry fruits from the US will affect walnut, nut and dry fruit growers,” he said.
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He said the deal guarantees zero-tariff access to US fruits. “At least, the Center should have protected the apple … it is completely a Sauda (agreement),” Abdullah said in Parliament.
The Chief Minister also made some remarks against BJP members after repeatedly interrupting his speech. After this, BJP MLAs stood up and apologized to him.
Speaking to reporters the next day, Abdullah denied apologizing to BJP members for his remarks.
“I was willing to withdraw and speak again if I was allowed to speak at that time, but I was not given the opportunity. It is now on record. When they (BJP) did not allow me to speak, there was no need to apologise,” he said.
Meanwhile, LOP Sunil Sharma said that Tuesday’s proceedings would be written in “blind letters”. He said the chief minister had “crossed the line of morality and ethics”, adding that it had never happened before.
Sharma also said that the BJP MLAs will not allow the House to function until CM Abdullah takes back his words and tenders an unconditional apology.
((with inputs from Ravi Krishnan Khajuria)
