FLOOD LOSSES DISCUSSION ROW: BJP MLAs demand Omar Abdullah’s resignation, stage walkout from Assembly
Srinagar, Oct 30: Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators on Thursday staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly after their adjournment motion seeking a discussion on the recent floods in the Union Territory was rejected.
The BJP members, who stood throughout the Question Hour, accused the government of avoiding accountability over the flood situation and demanded an apology and resignation from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for his “unfulfilled promises.”
As the House assembled, the BJP legislators demanded that the Question Hour be suspended to allow a special discussion on the plight of flood-affected areas in Jammu. Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather urged them to take their seats, assuring that time for discussion would be allowed later.
“We will see after Question Hour. I will allow him to speak then,” the Speaker said. However, the BJP MLAs refused to relent, insisting on an immediate debate.
Rather clarified that the adjournment motion had been disallowed under Rule 58(12), which bars reconsideration of a motion already rejected in the same session.
BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia objected, alleging that the Speaker had earlier promised to permit the resolution. “You could have extended time yesterday,” he said, prompting the Speaker to respond that the issue should have been raised earlier.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma accused the government of deliberately evading discussion on the floods. “People of J&K expected this House to raise their concerns. Resolutions were managed yesterday so that this issue didn’t even come up. The government seems disinterested in helping the flood victims,” he said.
Sharma further alleged attempts to conceal irregularities. “What does the government want to hide? A PWD scam has been exposed in the media. Why is the government running away from discussion?” he asked.
His remarks triggered noisy protests from the treasury benches. NC MLA Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi accused the BJP of “enacting drama” and wasting the House’s time, while Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary retorted, “Chor machaye shor” (the guilty make the most noise).
NC MLA Salman Sagar challenged the BJP to explain its own record from 2014 to 2024, including its alliance with the PDP and the subsequent period of Central rule in J&K.
The confrontation escalated when BJP MLA Shagun Parihar (Kishtwar) attempted to enter the well of the House but was stopped by female marshals. Two other BJP MLAs—R.S. Pathania and Surinder Kumar—were marshalled out after jumping into the well.
Despite the commotion, the Speaker continued the Question Hour. BJP legislators remained standing until it ended, after which they staged a walkout, shouting slogans against the government and demanding Omar Abdullah’s resignation and apology.
This was the first walkout by BJP MLAs during the ongoing autumn session of the Assembly.
