Jammu, Feb 10 Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday ruled out apologising to BJP members for his certain remarks in the Assembly, saying while he was willing to withdraw his words, he was not allowed to speak in the House amid repeated disruptions.
“There is no question of an apology now as the remarks are already on record,” he said.
A pandemonium broke out in the House during Abdullah's speech when BJP members objected to some of his remarks and demanded an apology, shortly before Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the proceedings for the day.
Abdullah was addressing the House, winding up a discussion on the Union territory's Budget presented on February 6. The BJP members were on their feet during most part of his nearly 40-minute speech. Speaker Rather, who repeatedly tried to persuade the members to take their seats, later informed the BJP MLAs that their protest will not be recorded.
Referring to the recent India-US interim trade deal, the chief minister claimed it was detrimental to the interests of Jammu and Kashmir. He also made some remarks against the BJP members, who repeatedly disrupted his speech.
The BJP legislators then stood up and assembled in the front row, terming Abdullah's remarks "unparliamentary".
Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, Abdullah said, “Had they (BJP members) allowed me to speak, I would have withdrawn my words myself.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. What has been said is already on record. Had they allowed me even a second to speak, I was standing there to say ‘fine, I would withdraw those words’ and put the same point differently. But since they did not allow me to speak, there is no question of apologising,” Abdullah said.
He also asked whom he was expected to apologise to, alleging that those “lecturing” in the Assembly about the nation and the Constitution could not even sit through the entire Republic Day function on January 26.
“The Leader of Opposition (Sunil Sharma), 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,” the chief minister said.
Asked about his statement that the India-US trade deal was detrimental to the interests of J-K, Abdullah said, “If you look at it now – chestnuts, dry fruits, fresh fruits, dairy products – if these are imported duty-free, what do we have left?
“We do not have any marine industry, no marine food, no seafood. What we have is horticulture – dry fruits, walnut, almond, saffron, apple, kiwi… 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.”
Abdullah also claimed that the BJP members were upset because he placed certain realities before the people.“What 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 – there are only losses,” he said.
Abdullah, who holds the finance portfolio, also defended his second Budget in the Assembly, rejecting claims that it was shrinking or limited to central schemes, and asserted that it prioritised relief for the poorest sections, and growth of the rural economy.
He said while opposition to the Budget was expected from the opposition members, the overall public response had been largely positive.
Dismissing allegations that the Budget left people distressed, the chief minister said the government has presented a clear roadmap to pull Jammu and Kashmir out of stagnation, despite difficult circumstances.
Clarifying the provision of six free LPG cylinders, Abdullah said these would be funded entirely from Jammu and Kashmir and not through any central scheme.
“No funds are being taken from the Centre for this purpose,” he said.
Refuting claims that the Budget relied solely on central schemes, he said several initiatives – including scholarships and social welfare measures – had been introduced independently by the UT government.
The chief minister also highlighted the success of the free bus travel scheme for women announced last year, calling it a UT-funded initiative.
The government has now extended free bus travel to persons with disabilities as well.
The Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, meanwhile, slammed Abdullah for his remarks and said the opposition MLAs from his party will not allow the House to function until the chief minister 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 country’s democratic process.
“The chief minister 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,” Sharma said.
