BJP MLAs protest against 'chair’s bias', walk out enmasse

Jammu, Feb 9: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators on Monday walked out of the House enmasse accusing the Chair of ìbeing biased towards them and not allotting them time to speak in the debate on J&K budget in the Legislative Assembly.î

They staged walkout minutes before adjournment of the House following uproarious scenes over PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Para's remarks on Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI).

While National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members were engaged in the verbal duel on SASCI issue, BJP members rose, agitating against the Chair.

However, while assuring them to give time to speak, NC Chief Whip Mubarak Gul, who was in the Chair then, called the name of NC MLA Javaid Ahmad Mirchal after Para amid pandemonium.

This further irked the BJP members.

ìSince we are not being given time, we are walking out,î they said and staged a walkout at 1:14 pm amid slogans targeting both NC and PDP while Gul was assuring that they would be given time.

NC members also countered the slogans, taking dig at both BJP and PDP.

Speaking to the media outside the J&K Legislature, the Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma alleged that the government did not want the opposition to speak.

ìChair was also partial towards us and not giving us time to speak,î he said.