Jammu, Feb 10: Total disorder was the order in the Legislative Assembly amid ear-piercing competing sloganeering from the opposition and treasury benches when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday wound up the general discussion on J&K budget for the year 2026-27.
Though the Chief Ministerís reply started on a harmonious note yet as he started picking holes in the Indo-US trade deal, he struck discordant notes with the opposition benches.
This also ensued an exchange of banter between the CM and the Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma joined by other BJP MLAs.
ìWhile they (BJP MLAs) are going gaga over the Indo-US trade deal, Iím still trying to figure out from its fine print how it is going to benefit J&K. Zero duty on chest nuts, almonds, walnuts, dry fruits, saffron, apples, kiwi ñ will ruin J&K. Our horticulture will suffer if all these items start coming duty-free from the US. This ìSaudebaaziî will be detrimental to J&K,î CM said.
The expression ìSaudebaaziî was objected to by the BJP members led by LoP as they started protesting, CM Omar said, ìThis is an Indo-US trade deal and the deal is called Sauda in Hindi.î
ìYeh Fayde Ka Sauda Hai (This is a beneficial deal),î BJP members said.
CM replied, ìBeneficial for whom?î
LoP gestured towards him.
CM responded, ìIt would be beneficial for you but not for my horticulturists of J&K; for the apiculturists.î
LoP, in a direct dig at the CM, asked him to give an account of his performance and what he brought in the budget for daily wagers and others.
ìYou donít seem to be pleased with our budget,î the CM mocked.
At this point of time, in the same momentum, the CM aimed a barb at the LoP in the backdrop of the Union Home Ministerís visit.
This became a trigger point for the bedlam that drowned the entire House thereafter.
BJP members led by the LoP were up on their legs, protesting, ìThe Leader of the House has made an unparliamentary remark. He should tender an apology for it.î
They also started raising slogans countered by the NC members.
CM Omar tried to pacify them saying, ìLet me speak. Iíll changeÖ”
But the opposition did not relent.
As the competing sloganeering continued, the Speaker issued directions that nothing would be recorded or reported.
In between this melee, the House also witnessed heated arguments between the Minister for Transport Satish Sharma and his uncle – MLA Sham Sharma also.
The CM completed his address in the pandemonium. Following which the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.
Later, the CM while speaking to media persons, outside the Legislature ruled out apologising to BJP members for his certain remarks in the Assembly.
ìThere is no question of an apology now as the remarks are already on record,î he said.
ìHad they allowed me to speak, I would have withdrawn my words myself. I was ready to withdraw them and say the same thing in a different manner. But they did not let me speak. There is no question of offering an apology now,î CM Omar said.
PTI ADDS TO REPORT
The CM also asked whom he was expected to apologise to, alleging that those ìlecturingî in the Assembly about the nation and the Constitution could not even sit through the entire Republic Day function on January 26.
ìThe Leader of Opposition, who teaches us lessons on patriotism, I was sitting right next to him. He could not remain seated for the entire duration. At the half-way mark, you (Sharma) got up and left. And then you come here to lecture us on nationalism,îhe said.
Asked about his statement that the India-US trade deal was detrimental to the interests of J&K, the CM said, ìIf you look at it now ñ chestnuts, dry fruits, fresh fruits, dairy products ñ if these are imported duty-free, what do we have left?
ìWe do not have any marine industry, no marine food, no seafood. What we have is horticulture ñ dry fruits, walnuts, almonds, saffron, apple, kiwiÖ This is what we have. Now, if all these items start coming duty-free from the US, Jammu and Kashmir is bound to suffer losses.î
CM Omar also claimed that the BJP members were upset because he placed certain realities before the people.
ìWhat may benefit the rest of the country cannot necessarily support us. I am the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. I have to speak about the interests of the people. We have no benefits from the India-US trade deal ñ there are only losses,î he said.
The Leader of Opposition, slammed CM Omar for his remarks and said the opposition MLAs from his party would not allow the House to function until the CM withdraws his words and submits an unconditional apology on the floor of the Assembly.
Talking to reporters outside the House, he said the day would be written in black letters in the history of J-K Assembly, calling the proceedings a blot on the countryís democratic process.
ìThe CM is the leader of the House, but he crossed all limits of parliamentary decorum, tearing apart the sanctity of the Assembly. Such language does not befit his stature and has never been used by any chief minister in any Assembly of this country,î Sharma said.
