JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday ruled out apologising to BJP members for his certain remarks in the Assembly, saying while he was willing to withdraw his words, he was not allowed to speak in the House amid repeated disruptions.
“There is no question of an apology now as the remarks are already on record,” he said.
A pandemonium broke out in the House during Abdullah’s speech when BJP members objected to some of his remarks and demanded an apology, shortly before Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather adjourned the proceedings for the day.
Abdullah was addressing the House, winding up a discussion on the Union territory’s Budget presented on February 6. The BJP members were on their feet during most part of his nearly 40-minute speech.
Speaker Rather, who repeatedly tried to persuade the members to take their seats, later informed the BJP MLAs that their protest will not be recorded.
Referring to the recent India-US interim trade deal, the chief minister claimed it was detrimental to the interests of Jammu and Kashmir. He also made some remarks against the BJP members, who repeatedly disrupted his speech.
The BJP legislators then stood up and assembled in the front row, terming Abdullah’s remarks “unparliamentary”.
Talking to reporters outside the Assembly, Abdullah said, “Had they (BJP members) allowed me to speak, I would have withdrawn my words myself. I was ready to withdraw them and say the same thing in a different manner. But they did not let me speak.
“There is no question of offering an apology now. What has been said is already on record. Had they allowed me even a second to speak, I was standing there to say ‘fine, I would withdraw those words’ and put the same point differently. But since they did not allow me to speak, there is no question of apologising,” Abdullah said.
He also asked whom he was expected to apologise to, alleging that those “lecturing” in the Assembly about the nation and the Constitution could not even sit through the entire Republic Day function on January 26.
“The Leader of Opposition (Sunil Sharma), who teaches us lessons on patriotism, I was sitting right next to him. He could not remain seated for the entire duration. At the half-way mark, you (Sharma) got up and left. And then you come here to lecture us on nationalism,” the chief minister said.
Asked about his statement that the India-US trade deal was detrimental to the interests of J-K, Abdullah said, “If you look at it now – chestnuts, dry fruits, fresh fruits, dairy products – if these are imported duty-free, what do we have left?
“We do not have any marine industry, no marine food, no seafood. What we have is horticulture – dry fruits, walnut, almond, saffron, apple, kiwi… This is what we have. Now, if all these items start coming duty-free from the US, Jammu and Kashmir is bound to suffer losses.”
Abdullah also claimed that the BJP members were upset because he placed certain realities before the people.
“What may benefit the rest of the country cannot necessarily support us. I am the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. I have to speak about the interests of the people. We have no benefits from the India-US trade deal – there are only losses,” he said.
Abdullah, who holds the finance portfolio, also defended his second Budget in the Assembly, rejecting claims that it was shrinking or limited to central schemes, and asserted that it prioritised relief for the poorest sections, and growth of the rural economy.
He said while opposition to the Budget was expected from the opposition members, the overall public response had been largely positive.
Dismissing allegations that the Budget left people distressed, the chief minister said the government has presented a clear roadmap to pull Jammu and Kashmir out of stagnation, despite difficult circumstances.
Clarifying the provision of six free LPG cylinders, Abdullah said these would be funded entirely from Jammu and Kashmir and not through any central scheme.
“No funds are being taken from the Centre for this purpose,” he said.
Refuting claims that the Budget relied solely on central schemes, he said several initiatives – including scholarships and social welfare measures – had been introduced independently by the UT government.
The chief minister also highlighted the success of the free bus travel scheme for women announced last year, calling it a UT-funded initiative.
The government has now extended free bus travel to persons with disabilities as well.
The Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, meanwhile, slammed Abdullah for his remarks and said the opposition MLAs from his party will not allow the House to function until the chief minister withdraws his words and submits an unconditional apology on the floor of the Assembly.
Talking to reporters outside the House, he said the day would be written in black letters in the history of J-K Assembly, calling the proceedings a blot on the country’s democratic process.
“The chief minister is the leader of the House, but he crossed all limits of parliamentary decorum, tearing apart the sanctity of the Assembly. Such language does not befit his stature and has never been used by any chief minister in any Assembly of this country,” Sharma said.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today reaffirmed his Government’s firm commitment to fulfilling all promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the Budget 2026–27 lays a strong foundation for sustained economic growth, social welfare and inclusive development across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister was replying to the discussion on the Budget 2026–27, presented by him for the second consecutive year in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on February 6, 2026
He said the Government is focused on creating employment opportunities, strengthening core infrastructure, improving public services and ensuring that the benefits of development reach every section of society in a transparent and time-bound manner.
On the issue of regularization of daily wage workers, CM Omar Abdullah said
“God willing, we will initiate regularization of daily wagers this year, and we will continue to support them,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the opposition is unable to digest the pro-people nature of the Budget.
“Opposition is frustrated because we have presented a good and people-centric Budget for Jammu and Kashmir,” he remarked.
He recalled that SRO-based employment support for militancy-hit families was initiated in 1996 under former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, benefiting thousands.
Responding to the three-day-long debate, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who is also the Leader of the House, expressed gratitude to all legislators who participated in the discussion.
“For the last three days, I have been standing here to respond to the debate about the Budget. I thank all the honourable MLAs who took part. They gave valuable suggestions and we will try to implement many of them in the future,” he said.
He noted that the Budget was widely discussed not only inside the House but also outside, and that people have largely responded positively.
“Generally, people were satisfied with the Budget. They understand that it is not easy to propel Jammu and Kashmir forward in these circumstances, but through this Budget, a roadmap has been laid out to take J&K out of the present challenges,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister underlined that the Government’s foremost responsibility is towards the poorest and most vulnerable sections of society.
“The first responsibility of every government is to help the weakest and the poorest. Through this Budget, we have tried to provide comfort to those who need it the most,” he said.
Rejecting criticism over not announcing certain populist measures, he stated firmly that the Government’s priority remains social justice and targeted welfare.
Clarifying a major welfare promise, CM Omar Abdullah announced that the Government will provide free LPG cylinders from its own budgetary resources, without depending on any central scheme.
“I want to put it on record that we will give these cylinders with our own money and resources. We do not need to take money from the central government for this,” he said.
Responding to allegations that the Budget contains only centrally-sponsored schemes, the Chief Minister highlighted several unique initiatives funded directly through the J&K Budget.
He announced monthly assistance for orphans and vulnerable families:
“We have said that those who have lost both parents, or who have lost the sole breadwinner, will be declared orphans. If they are not covered under any other scheme, they will receive Rs 4,000 per month,” he said.
Similarly, scholarships for tribal children and poor students have been introduced where no other coverage exists.
He also recalled the success of free bus ridership for women announced last year.
“This was not a Government of India scheme. We introduced it through our own Budget, and it has been very successful,” he said.
This year, the Government has extended free ridership relief to persons with disabilities.
The Chief Minister also spoke about expanding environmentally-friendly EV bus service while ensuring balanced growth for other transport sectors.
“If we can make EV buses reach more areas, autos and taxis will also run. By closing one thing, we cannot increase the economy,” he said.
Refuting claims that the Budget is shrinking, CM Omar Abdullah clarified expenditure figures and said misleading comparisons were being drawn.
“It is wrong to say we have spent only 12 per cent. If we look only at capital expenditure, it has reached 36 per cent, and by March 31 we will bring it close to last year’s level,” he informed.
He explained that last year’s revenue expenditure was higher due to settlement of expensive loans, which is not the case this year.
“To say that we are shrinking our economy is not true at all. We have put our money where it is most needed,” he asserted.
Emphasising that Jammu and Kashmir lives in its villages, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the Budget gives special attention to strengthening the rural economy.
“As long as village areas do not develop, J&K will not develop,” he said.
He listed key thrust areas including agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and dairy development.
The Chief Minister announced a new dairy scheme aimed at increasing milk production by one lakh litres.
“The central government has praised this initiative and even wants to support us further through the National Dairy Development Board,” he said.
He also spoke about improving livestock quality, backyard poultry, and enhancing productivity.
In horticulture, he highlighted the introduction of weather-based crop insurance for the first time.
“If there is nothing in our Budget, then why did this not happen before?” he asked.
During his address, CM Omar Abdullah raised serious concerns over provisions of the Indo-US trade deal, stating it could adversely impact Jammu and Kashmir’s dry fruit and horticulture economy.
“Tree nuts—walnuts and almonds—are the origin of Jammu and Kashmir. Allowing them duty-free imports raises questions about sympathy for our farmers,” he said.
He added that even apples should have been protected.
On the SASCI scheme, the Chief Minister said it provides Jammu and Kashmir access to interest-free financial support for the next 50 years, calling it a responsible fiscal measure.
“The value of money after 50 years can be imagined. This is a significant relief,” he said.
He cited figures from Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to explain how states have benefited under the scheme.
The Chief Minister also underscored his Government’s strong focus on youth empowerment through Mission YUVA, a flagship initiative aimed at creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing skill development across Jammu and Kashmir. He said the scheme is designed to harness the potential of young people by supporting start-ups, self-employment ventures and targeted training programmes, enabling the youth to become active partners in the region’s economic growth.
Addressing criticism that the Budget is Kashmir-centric, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed such assertions meaningless and misplaced, stating that his Government remains equally committed to balanced development across all regions. He pointed out that the Government would not have restored the Darbar Move to Jammu if it did not intend to correct the wrongs done with Jammu and ensure equitable attention to its aspirations and needs.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah further emphasised that industries benefiting from the incentives and support provided by the Jammu and Kashmir Government must also contribute meaningfully to local employment generation. He noted that industrial units receive substantial facilitation in the form of subsidies, land, power supply and other concessions, and therefore have a responsibility to prioritise the recruitment of local youth. The Government, he said, has impressed upon such industries to ensure that the people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the younger generation, are given adequate employment opportunities so that industrial growth translates into inclusive development and real benefits for the region.
The Chief Minister concluded by reiterating that the Budget 2026–27 is a roadmap for inclusive growth, long-term development and social justice, and that his Government remains fully committed to delivering results on the ground for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
