NC Legislator's Remarks on PoK Trigger Ruckus, BJP Seeks Apology

Omar Tries to Pacify BJP Legislators Who Were Angry at MLA Saifullah Mir After His Praise of Infra in PoK

- Mir Ehsan

SRINAGAR: War of words broke out between NC and BJP legislators in the J&K assembly when the NC legislator from Trehgam praised infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) while demanding tunnels for Jumgund and Keran near the LoC represented by MLA Saifullah Mir.

BJP legislators, however, objected to Mir's remarks and termed him a "traitor."

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, pacified the angry BJP legislators by saying that the situation in PoK is very bad despite the fact that they are being helped by China. "We never sought help from China, America, France or England to build our roads," he said.

While demanding tunnels for far-flung areas of Kupwara, former Minister Saifullah Mir said that infrastructure in PoK is better than ours. He, however, was interrupted by the BJP legislators. Many NC legislators came out in his support.

Later, Mir said he never praised Pakistan or their infrastructure.

"I never made any comparison. I only said our roads should be better than theirs. Why should I apologize when I didn't say anything wrong," Mir said, stressing that he is "more nationalist than the BJP people."

Earlier, some BJP legislators had sought an apology from the NC legislator over his remarks.

While replying to a question of Mir, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary said that the demand for construction of a tunnel on the road connecting Keran and Jumgund area of Kupwara for providing all-weather connectivity will be taken up with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. He said DPR would also be prepared and forwarded to the department concerned.