Amid stormy scenes over statehood resolution, the J&K Assembly witnessed a light-hearted moment on Tuesday when Chief Minister Omar Abduallah passed the Bill for an increase of Rs 10,000 in the pension for former legislators.

“Now, it will be easy for me to go back home today,” Omar said as his father and former CM Farooq Abdullah, who was watching the proceedings from the VIP gallery, laughed and pointed at himself.

Members of the House, including legislators from the BJP, who did not object to the raise, also chuckled along. “I have a former MLA at Home,” said Omar.

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Earlier, the Assembly saw another tense start to the day as, as soon as the House commenced, BJP leaders rose to their feet and raised slogans against the resolution for restoration of statehood that was passed on Monday by voice vote.

The BJP legislators raised slogans against Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather, asking him to relinquish the chair. Triggered by the BJP slogans, National Conference (NC) leaders also stood up and raised slogans against the Opposition party, calling them “vote chor (thieves)”.

BJP Walks Out Of J&K Assembly Over Discussion On Statehood Resolution.

As BJP legislator Sham Lal Sharma argued with the Speaker, Rather, who is a seven-time legislator, shouted back. “I know the law, don’t teach me”.

As Rather announced the beginning of ‘Question Hour’, BJP legislators walked out of the House, raising slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ and “Speaker Sahib, Kursi Chhodo (Relinquish the chair, Mr Speaker)’.

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Salary Bill withdrawn

Meanwhile, CM Omar moved a resolution seeking a hike in the salary of the legislators. A separate bill was moved for an increase in the pension of former legislators.

A panel of legislators had recommended a salary hike from Rs 1.8 lakh to Rs 3 lakh along with allowances, telephone bills and house loans for the legislators. The bill, however, proposed a hike of Rs 35,000 only.

However, as the BJP legislators opposed the move, saying they don’t want any increase in salary, citing public anger over unresolved issues of daily wagers and unemployment, Omar said he will withdraw the bill.

“I was against it (salary hike). But there were demands from both sides,” Omar said. “But I told them, it will happen only when all legislators vote for it. Even if one legislator votes against it, I am not going to move it. Now that you (BJP legislators) have opposed it, I am withdrawing the Bill.”

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Omar versus Devyani Rana

When Omar responded to a question by BJP legislator Devyani Rana, she stood to ask a supplementary question. As, instead of asking the question, she tried to make a speech, NC legislators and the Speaker objected to it. As she continued, the Speaker asked another member to ask a question.

CM Omar intervened, saying the BJP legislator is new and doesn’t know the House rules. Omar said he hopes that senior BJP leaders will teach her the rules.

Devyani’s father Devendar Singh Rana was Omar’s closest aide before he switched to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).