Srinagar, May 23: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Saturday hit back at Leader of Opposition (LoP) Sunil Sharma over his “missing complaint” remark targeting Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, saying the BJP leader himself remained absent during the crucial budget session.
Speaking to reporters here, Choudhary said the LoP has a major responsibility during the budget session as legislators are expected to raise issues concerning people from their respective constituencies.
“The Leader of Opposition said he would lodge a missing complaint against Omar Abdullah for not being seen for the past 10 days. But Sunil Sharma was also not seen during the budget session, and we too were looking for him,” he said.
The Deputy CM said the budget session is an important platform where public issues are discussed in the Assembly and questioned Sharma’s absence from the proceedings. “Where was the LoP during such an important session? We can understand he may have had some work, but the people of Jammu and Kashmir also wanted to know where he was at that time,” he said.
Choudhary said if Sunil Sharma is personally attacking CM Omar today, then he should first answer where he was during the budget session. “Why should we not have filed a missing report or even an FIR against you then?” he asked.
He further alleged that LoP had left behind the people of hilly and backward areas during that period. “Those poor, backward and mountainous people, where did you go, leaving them behind?” he asked.
Defending the Chief Minister, Choudhary said Omar Abdullah had gone out for work, and there was nothing unusual about it.
“Omar sahib has gone for work. Just as I or anyone else can travel somewhere for personal work, he too can go. Making an issue out of it is not healthy politics,” he added—(KNO)
