Jammu: J&K Assembly proceedings disrupted on Wednesday after CM Omar Abdullahremarks bjp Lawmaker ‘beaten’ by federal interior minister Amit Shahtriggering protests and strikes by opposition members.Bharatiya Janata Party sources said Shah, during his three-day visit last week, rebuked party lawmakers seeking separate statehood for Jammu, stressing that Kashmir cannot be divided. They claim Abdullah mentioned that meeting but did not elaborate. Former minister and BJP MP Sham Lal Sharma denied any confrontation, saying the meeting was friendly and questioned the basis of the chief minister’s remarks.The conflict in Parliament dates back to Tuesday night’s budget debate, when Abdullah criticized the India-US trade deal as unfair to Johnson & Johnson, saying duty-free imports of US apples and dry fruits would hurt local farmers. The BJP legislators objected, triggering a heated exchange in which Abdullah referred to a meeting between the BJP legislators and Shah in language that prompted the speaker to adjourn the House.When proceedings resumed on Wednesday, BJP MPs went into the well demanding an apology. Opposition leader Sunil Sharma said the remarks were derogatory and unprecedented for the chief minister. Abdullah refused to apologize and told Speaker Abdullah Rahim to delete any non-parliamentary remarks if deemed necessary.Addressing the Assembly, Abdullah said his remarks were directed at the BJP MPs and did not involve personal or family insults, and accused Sharma and other opposition members of repeatedly mentioning his father and late grandfather. He warned that continued disruption could impact members’ issues and funding.The BJP members then walked out, with Sharma saying: “Such words have never been used in the history of rallies”. He insisted on an apology from the chief minister.
