‘Real, fake MLA’: Omar hails Yudhvir for staying in House amid BJP walkout

Srinagar, Sep 22: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday praised BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi for remaining in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and raising a question despite his party colleagues walking out of the House over the demand to restore a holiday on Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary.
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‎The exchange came after BJP members staged a walkout as National Conference legislators sought that Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary be declared a holiday. The BJP members raised slogans in favour of Maharaja Hari Singh as they left the House, while Sethi remained seated.
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‎Before responding to Sethi’s question, Omar referred to his decision to stay in the House and said the MLA had chosen to put the interests of his constituents ahead of the party’s protest.
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‎“I salute the MLA for standing apart from his party and raising people’s issues. He wants to use the House in the interest of people. This shows the difference between a real and a fake MLA,” Omar said.
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‎The Chief Minister then responded to the question raised by Sethi.
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‎The BJP members had walked out of the Assembly after the issue of declaring Sheikh Abdullah’s birth anniversary as a holiday was raised. The demand came during the second day of the Assembly’s autumn session.
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‎As BJP members left the House, they raised slogans in favour of Maharaja Hari Singh. Sethi, however, remained in his seat and continued to participate in the proceedings.