'Shoe-beating' remark sparks uproar in J&K assembly, BJP demands Omar apology

JAMMU: J&K assembly proceedings were disrupted Wednesday after CM Omar Abdullah’s remarks that BJP legislators had been “shoe-beaten” by Union home minister Amit Shah, triggering protests and a walkout by opposition members.

BJP sources said Shah, during a three-day visit last week, had rebuked party legislators seeking separate statehood for Jammu, stressing Kashmir could not be separated. They alleged Abdullah alluded to that meeting without detailing it. Former minister and BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma denied any confrontation, calling the meeting cordial and questioning the basis of the CM’s remarks.

The assembly flare-up traces to a budget debate Tuesday evening when Abdullah criticised an India–US trade deal as unfair to J&K, saying duty-free imports of American apples and dry fruits would hurt local farmers. BJP legislators objected, sparking a heated exchange in which Abdullah referred to the meeting between BJP’s MLAs and Shah, using language that prompted the speaker to adjourn the House.

When proceedings resumed Wednesday, BJP legislators entered the well demanding an apology. Leader of opposition Sunil Sharma called the remark derogatory and unprecedented for a CM. Abdullah refused to apologise, telling speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to expunge any unparliamentary words if deemed necessary.

Addressing the assembly, Abdullah said his comments targeted BJP legislators and involved no personal or family insults, accusing Sharma and other opposition members of repeatedly referring to his father and late grandfather. He warned continued disruptions could affect members’ questions and grants.

BJP members later walked out, with Sharma saying: “These kinds of words have not been used by anyone in the assembly’s history”. He insisted the CM apologise.
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