The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly witnessed high-voltage drama on Tuesday as Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s controversial remarks triggered a massive showdown with the BJP. The opposition accused the CM of using “unparliamentary and derogatory” language, leading to repeated adjournments and slogans calling for his immediate resignation.

The Trigger Point: The confrontation began while Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was speaking on the India-US trade agreement. He expressed concerns that the deal, which facilitates the import of apples, almonds, and walnuts, would adversely affect the local farmers of Jammu and Kashmir. As he criticized the central government’s policy, BJP MLAs began protesting and chanting slogans in favor of Prime Minister Modi.

The ‘Shoe’ Controversy: Visibly frustrated by the interruptions, Omar Abdullah addressed the BJP benches, stating that their leadership, specifically the Union Home Minister, would “reprimand” them for their previous speeches in the house. However, the specific phrase he used carried a literal connotation of “being beaten with shoes.” This sparked an immediate backlash, with BJP members rushing into the well of the house, demanding an unconditional apology.

BJP’s Stance vs. Govt’s Defense: BJP leader Sunil Sharma slammed the Chief Minister, stating that such language is a disgrace to the chair and an insult to the people of the Union Territory. “A Chief Minister using words of physical violence under the guise of proverbs is unacceptable,” the BJP stated. Meanwhile, the National Conference defended the CM, arguing that the expression used was merely a common proverb signifying a “severe scolding” or “reprimand,” and was not meant literally. Despite the clarification, the assembly remained in a state of deadlock as the opposition refused to back down.