JNM journalist Hardeep Jamwal, Jammu
The political atmosphere in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly heated up on Wednesday when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was forced to clarify his previous statement. Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs protested in the House over the alleged unparliamentary use of words, staged a sit-in, and later walked out.
Amid the uproar, when the Chief Minister arrived to deliver his statement, the Speaker appealed to the protesting members to return to their seats. The atmosphere was tense, but the Chief Minister spoke in a soft tone.
The Chief Minister said, “As far as emotions are concerned, one can say anything in the heat of the moment. If anything I said hurt them, I regret it.”
However, he also clarified that his statement was not personal.
“I didn’t name any of his family members. But his field commander (the opposition leader) dragged my parents and late grandfather into this controversy. Nevertheless, I’m willing to put that aside.”
“I am everyone’s Chief Minister”
The Chief Minister said he is the Chief Minister of all of Jammu and Kashmir, not just the ruling party.
“If I say I am the elected Chief Minister, then I represent the voters of the treasury benches as well as the opposition.”
He also said that due to the uproar, many important questions remained unanswered, including issues related to education, health, and social welfare.
“I don’t want voters from any constituency to feel ignored.”
Offer to expunge words from the record
Addressing the Speaker, the Chief Minister said that if any unparliamentary words are found in his speech, they can be expunged from the record.
“If I used any unparliamentary words yesterday, you can expunge them from the record. I have no objection.”
Opposition Demands – Take Back Words
Earlier, BJP MLA Shyam Lal Sharma said that the Chief Minister should take back his words.
“Such language has never been used in this House before. If the Chief Minister doesn’t take back his words, it’s up to his conscience,” he said.
BJP MLAs, calling it a matter of the House’s dignity, raised slogans and later walked out.
What’s next?
This development once again makes it clear that the tension between the ruling party and the opposition in the Assembly is deepening rather than subsiding. The Chief Minister has certainly tried to cool the political temperature by expressing “regret,” but the opposition is considering it a mere formality.
Now, all eyes are on the Speaker’s decision—will the words be expunged from the record or will the Chief Minister formally take back his words? This controversy could resurface in upcoming sessions.
