BJP MLAs stage enmasse walkout, protest in LA against CM’s remarks

Jammu, Feb 11: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators on Wednesday staged an enmasse walkout besides a noisy protest, including a dharna (sit-in) in the well amid slogans in J&K Legislative Assembly, against, what they alleged, ìunparliamentaryremarksî made by the Chief Minister, aiming at them.

They were seeking an apology from the CM for his remarks made in the Legislative Assembly on February 10 targetting BJP members during his (CMís) reply to the general discussion on J&K budget.

On Tuesday, the Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma had threatened that the BJP would not allow the proceedings of the House if the Chief Minister did not tender an apology for his, what he alleged, ìundignified, unparliamentaryî remarks.

Today as soon as the House assembled for the dayís proceedings, the BJP MLAs, led by Sharma, were up, agitating amid slogans.

CM Omar, however, was not in the House.

BJP MLA Sham Sharma, addressing the Chair, threw a poser.

ìSpeaker Sir, you are custodian of the House. You tell us- was the Chief Ministerís language, he used yesterday, parliamentary? The Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and other cabinet ministers are using unparliamentary language, thus bringing down the decorum of the House. The Chief Minister should apologise for his remarks,î he said.

Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather responded saying that the CM was not in the House.

ìLet him come and then weíll discuss it. Donít disrupt the Question Hour,î he said.

Minister for Health and Medical Education SakeenaItoo pointed out that the BJP members were also using unparliamentary language against the Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary. Sham and Itoo had a brief verbal duel.

At this point of time, the Deputy CM also joined Itoo, countering BJP.

ìWe have heard you, now you should hear us. The CM even on Tuesday had said that he would withdraw his remarks if allowed to speak. But you did not allow him to speak,î Choudhary said.

Itoo asked the BJP members to leave the issue to the Chair to tackle it.

Sham countered, ìYehJootayPadna Kaun Si Language Hai?î

Aijaz Jan of National Conference stated that the Leader of Opposition (LOP) too should apologise for his remarks on Pir Panchal.

Itoo stated that the LoP on behalf of BJP should apologise on four counts ñ closure of SMVDIME; unparliamentary language against the Deputy Chief Minister; stopping the practice of Darbar Move and his (LOPís) own remarks on Pir Panchal.

NCís Nazir Gurezi, while defending the Chief Minister, said that it was a slip of tongue.

ìHe wanted to clarify it but you did not allow it,î he said. BJPís SS Slathia said that the Chief Ministerís remarks were derogatory.

Rather again asked the Members to restore order, stating that the Budget session was very important and the MLAs should raise issues of the people they were representing.

LOP responded, saying, ìIn the history of J&K Legislature, this has happened for the first time that a CM has used such an unparliamentary language.î

The Deputy CN said, ìIf the chair wants to expunge remarks, it may.î

However, the BJP members continued to protest.

They wanted the CM to come to the House and tender an apology for his remarks. Finally they staged an enmasse walkout at 10.30 am amid slogans against the government and seeking apology from the CM.

NC members too responded with sloganeering.

At the fag end of the Question Hour, the CM briefly came. Immediately after the Question Hour, moved the listed "Bill to amend J&K State Civil Courts Act" and then left.

BJP members, minus LoP, too returned to the House and again started their protest, objecting to the absence of the CM.

They urged the Chair to direct the CM to come to the House and retract his ìunparliamentaryî statement.

Sham Sharma asked the Speaker to direct the CM to come to the House to end the impasse.

ìDo you want to run the House without opposition? The CM briefly came yet left again. For how long, he would escape us and the House?î he asked Rather.

The Speaker stated they (BJP) closed their case by staging a walkout.

They (BJP) resumed protest after a brief verbal duel with the Ministers and the Chair. They sat in the well raising slogans as the discussion on demands for grants commenced.

Meanwhile BJPís Pawan Gupta also reiterated that the CM should come to the House and apologise for his undignified remarks.

ìAre you acting in a dignified manner,î the Speaker asked.

Itoo requested the agitating BJP MLAs to participate in the discussion on demands for grants of departments, which were very crucial for their electorate as well.

ìYes, they are crucial and we too want to participate yet not at the cost of our dignity. They did not elect us to hear such undignified remarks,î Sham Sharma said.

ìWe have our sisters too as MLAs and the Chief Minister used unparliamentary Language against them too. Is it acceptable?î other BJP MLAs questioned.

By this time, the LoP too had joined the agitating BJP MLAs.

He, however, remained there briefly and then again went out.

NCís Tanvir Sadiq said, ìThey talk of morality yet the LoP, himself, used very derogatory language against our Chief Minister outside the Legislature, questioning even his (CMís) upbringing.î

This exchange of heated arguments between the two sides continued amid BJPís sloganeering, including some innovative ones in Dogri, pointing towards the CMís absence.

Meanwhile the discussion on demands for grants of the departments of Social Welfare; Health and Medical Education; School Education and the Higher Education continued though uproar disrupted its flow, rendering the majority content inaudible.

BJPís two women MLAs Shagun Parihar and Devyani Rana too led the charge vis-‡-vis sloganeering.

This continued till around 12.11 pm, when CM Omar entered the House.

BJP MLA Sham Sharma reiterated that the CM should retract his remarks, which might be a slip of tongue.

Following it, the CM, in his brief address, regretted his remarks yet he did not forget to take a dig at the Leader of Opposition, who was not in the House.

He also accused the LOP of bringing his (CM's) family into the controversy.

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

With it, the impasse between the opposition and treasury benches ended.

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LOP, while speaking to the media outside the Legislature, after the BJP staged walkout, accused the Chair of being partial towards the opposition and alleged that the NC leadership was demonstrating its arrogance.