Jammu, February 11: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators on Wednesday staged a walkout from the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, protesting against what they termed as “unparliamentary and indecent language” allegedly used by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during House proceedings.
Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma claimed that certain remarks made by the Chief Minister, including the phrase “joote maaro” (hit with shoes), violated parliamentary decorum and brought disrepute to democratic traditions.
Raising slogans against the National Conference-led government, BJP members demanded an unconditional apology from the Chief Minister.
Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Sharma said the BJP legislators would not allow the House to function unless Abdullah withdrew his remarks and apologised. He described the comments as “shameful” and said such language undermined the dignity and sanctity of the Assembly.
Sharma further alleged that ruling party members mocked the Opposition through gestures during the heated exchange, which he said lowered the standard of debate in the House.
The controversy erupted during an intense discussion inside the Assembly, following which BJP MLAs walked out while chanting slogans against the government. Amid the uproar, the Speaker later adjourned the House for the day.
The BJP warned that its protest would continue if the Chief Minister failed to issue an apology, asserting that no compromise could be made on maintaining the dignity of the Assembly.
