Aaqib Khan
Jammu, February 10 : The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed uproar on Tuesday after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah used a phrase interpreted by the Opposition as deeply derogatory against its members, leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to term it a “black day” for democracy in the State.
Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma accused chief minister Abdullah of violating parliamentary decorum and “tearing apart the sanctity of the House” by using the words “inko jutee padegi” (they need to be hit with a shoe) during a heated exchange.
Speaking with News Agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) Sharma said, “Today will be remembered as a shameful day in the democratic history of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief Minister has crossed all limits of decency. Such language has never been used by any Chief Minister in any Legislative Assembly in India.”
He alleged that the remarks reflected “extreme arrogance” and showed that CM Omar had forgotten the dignity and responsibility of his office. “The sanctity of words has been forgotten. Using such a phrase inside the Assembly is disgraceful and brings disrepute to the House itself,” Sunil Sharma said.
The Opposition leader contended that the comment was not merely an insult to the BJP legislators but an affront to the entire institution of the Assembly. “It shames the House and raises questions about propriety,” he added.
The BJP has demanded an unconditional public apology from the Chief Minister. “We will not allow the House to function normally until the Chief Minister tenders an unconditional apology,” Sharma asserted, indicating that the Opposition would continue its protest.
The Assembly was adjourned amid protests following the exchange. The Chief Minister’s office has not yet issued a formal response to the Opposition’s allegations. (KNS)
