Jammu, Feb 11: Senior National Conference minister Sakina Itoo launched a sharp attack on BJP lagislators in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Wednesday, accusing them of “unprecedented misbehaviour” and “relentless lying,” demanded an unconditional apology from them for their conduct.
Speaking to media outside the assembly, minister Itoo said with over two decades in the legislature the behaviour of the opposition members had sunk to a new low. “In my 20 years in this House, I have never seen the kind of misbehaviour that BJP members are displaying today. They are lying relentlessly. This is new to my experience,” Itoo said.
Her remarks come a day after the Assembly proceedings were plunged into chaos and witnessed multiple adjournments following a remark by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that the BJP termed “deeply derogatory.” The BJP staged a walkout, calling it a “black day” for the state’s democracy, and demanded a public apology from the Chief Minister.
Itoo pointed to the BJP’s conduct towards Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Tuesday as a specific instance of what she described as “intolerable” behaviour. She defended CM Abdullah’s approach, stating he had shown “immense restraint” for three days, allowing the Opposition to speak and holding back treasury bench members from responding.
“But when the Chief Minister finally started answering after three days, one must just listen to the language used by the BJP members,” Itoo said, emphasising the provocation.
“They must apologise to the entire House and to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” she stated.
The Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, has refused to apologise for his own remark, maintaining that he was willing to withdraw and rephrase his statement but was “denied the chance” by the Opposition’s protests.
The standoff has led to a complete legislative impasse, with both sides holding their ground and trading allegations of breaching parliamentary decorum, threatening to stall crucial business in the Assembly.
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