BJP’s commander abandoned them in field, I’ll not: CM Omar
Jammu, Feb 11: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday said that he would not mind expunging of his any unparliamentary remark, if found so by the Chair, from the House record to break impasse, which would ultimately hurt the protesting BJP MLAsí voters.
He also regretted his remarks, which, he said, the BJP MLAs found offensive.
Taking a dig at the missing Leader of Opposition at that particular moment, CM Omar said that the ìfieldcommanderî of the agitating army (of BJP MLAs) would have abandoned them in the field but he (CM) would not as he cared about them (BJP MLAs) and their electorate.
He reiterated that he would have withdrawn his remarks the previous day only had he been allowed to speak by the BJP MLAs.
Reference was to his statement, made during his reply on February 10 to the general discussion on J&K budget for the year 2026-27, aiming barbs at the Leader of Opposition and the other BJP MLAs, in the backdrop of the recent visit of the Union Home Minister.
CM Omar had taunted that there was marked difference in their (BJP legislatorsí) strategy, with an aggressive turn, in the House, following the recent visit of the Union Home Minister to J&K.
Seemingly they (BJP) would have been reprimanded by the Union Home Minister, the Chief Minister had remarked, however, using Hindi slang.
BJP MLAs stoutly objected to, what they described as ìunparliamentary and undignified remark by the Chief Ministerî created hullabaloo in the House during the Chief Ministerís reply on February 10, seeking his (CMís) apology.
Today yet again they kept on protesting and also staged enmasse walkout during Question Hour demanding an apology from the CM or retraction of his statement.
However, the CM avoided facing agitating BJP MLAs till 12:11 pm when he finally came to the House and expressed his regret through a brief statement.
Earlier, BJP MLA Sham Sharma sought the attention of the Chair as soon as the CM entered the House.
ìSpeaker Sir, CM has come to the House. He is the Leader of the House. We have not demanded anything big. Iíve full confidence in the Chief Minister, as far as I know him. Sometimes, a slip of tongue may also occur. We have not asked for an apology. We had made a request on behalf of the Members of this House that he should use his own discretion and make a statement in the House,î Sham said.
Responding to it, the CM rose and said, ìSpeaker Sir, Sham Lal ji is right. He knows me well and so does (Surjit Singh) Slathia Sahib. During the past one and a half-year, there has been an interaction with almost every MLA.î
ìHad they (BJP MLAs) allowed me to speak at that time yesterday I, myself, would have withdrawn my remark. I had asked them to give me just a minute to clarify it but their field commander was not willing to budge,î he said, referring to the situation in the House the previous day.
In the same breath, CM Omar took another dig at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma, who was not present in the House at that moment.
ìOne must appreciate such an army, the General has fled the (battle)field. But the army has not left. They are still holding the fort. They did not leave the field. They kept on sitting, sticking to their post, defending it,î he said.
As some of the BJP members attempted to respond, the CM said, ìI kept on listening to you. Now you listen to me for two minutes. Such a valorous army can be abandoned in the field this way by their commander but I will not leave them.î While the CM continued, the NC members, too, took a dig at the opposition (BJP) questioning the LoPís absence.
The BJP members explained that he (LoP) had gone for some urgent work.
With regard to his remarks made during debate on the previous day, the CM said that it was an emotional outburst and regretted it.
ìIn the House, sometimes, one gets carried away by the emotions and makes certain remarks. What I said, they (BJP) found offensive. I regret that,î he said.
In the same breath, he targetted the LoP for dragging his (CMís) family in the entire controversy revolving around his (CMís) remarks. ìBut what I said, it was about them (BJP MLAs). I did not involve the members of their families. However, their field commander, while leaving, dragged my parents and even my late grand-father into it (controversy). Anyway, I leave that and not stretch it further. Speaker Sir, as much as I care about my MLAs, I have an equal concern for them (BJP MLAs) too,î the CM said.
Maintaining the momentum, he said, ìWhen I say that Iím the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, elected by the people, it simply means that I belong to the electorate of both the regions. Today they (BJP) could not raise even a single question (because of protest and walkout). It was a very smooth affair for us. There were some questions, where it could have been a tricky affair for us to answer them. Since they were not there in the House, they lost the opportunity to ask them.î
CM Omar said that if the uproar continued, the BJP MLAs would lose the chance to participate in the discussion on (demands) for grants.
ìMinister (SakeenaItoo) Sahiba was right that the discussion on demands for grants of very significant departments ñ Education, Health, Social Welfare was in progress. I donít want their (BJP MLAsí) electorate to remain ignored. Therefore, if Iíve made any unparliamentary remark yesterday during my reply, I leave it to you, Speaker Sir, to expunge that from the record, Iíll have no objection,î he said, ending the impasse persisting between the treasury and opposition benches.
