SRINAGAR: The Legislative Assembly on Tuesday witnessed uproar over police action against protesting daily-wagers.
After the Question Hour, BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa raised the issue of Monday’s police crackdown on daily-wagers in Jammu. Responding to him, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the police action unfortunate and said he would address the daily-wagers’ concerns during the demand for grants for departments under him.
“The police is neither in my control nor in yours (Randhawa’s). Instead of making a hue and cry here, you should raise the issue where the control lies, just a few kilometres from here,” Omar said.
He added that the daily-wagers’ concerns were genuine and not just financial but humanitarian. “Lathis should not have been used against them. I am sure the police have taken note of the concern,” he said.
As BJP legislators demanded the regularisation of daily-wagers, National Conference (NC) MLAs accused them of neglecting the issue for the past 10 years. The House erupted in chaos, with NC members shouting “Shame, shame” at BJP legislators.
Amid slogans and counter-slogans, BJP members chanted, “Dailywagers ko pakka karo (regularize daily-wagers)” before staging a walkout, accusing NC of betraying them. (KNO)
