CM Omar withdraws “shoe-beating” remark after BJP MLAs hold protest in assembly

Jammu, Feb 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday expressed regret over the 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 impasse between the Opposition and the treasury benches ended.

The Chief Minister also requested Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to expunge his remarks, if found unparliamentary, made during the proceedings the previous day.

BJP members had been protesting since morning. They even staged a walkout during Question Hour after protesting inside the House for nearly half an hour. They demanded that the Chief Minister come to the House and tender an apology for his remarks.

Towards the fag end of Question Hour, the Chief Minister briefly entered the House. Immediately after Question Hour, he moved the listed “Bill to amend the J&K State Civil Courts Act” and then left.

BJP members also returned to the House and resumed their protest, objecting to the Chief Minister’s absence. They urged the Chair to direct the CM to come to the House and retract his “unparliamentary” statement.

The Speaker stated that the BJP members had closed their case by staging a walkout. However, they resumed their protest after a brief verbal duel with the Ministers and the Chair. They sat in the well of the House, raising slogans as the discussion on demands for grants commenced.

At around 12:11 pm, CM Omar entered the House, and BJP MLA Sham Sharma reiterated that the Chief Minister should retract his remarks, which he said might have been a slip of the tongue.

Responding briefly, the Chief Minister said, “Had they given me an opportunity to speak yesterday, I would have withdrawn my remarks.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 Leader of the Opposition, who was not present in the House, and accused him of dragging his (the CM’s) family into the controversy.

“Your field commander left, but I would not. I care about the Opposition MLAs and want them not to miss raising issues concerning their electorate,” CM Omar said before leaving the House again.