Jammu, Mar 11: Amid the uproar in the House over the use of force on protesting dailywagers, the Chief Minister, while terming the lathi charge ‘unjustified’, stressed that his government does not control police.
The issue came to the forefront as opposition members raised concerns in the assembly about the protests by daily wage workers, who were demanding the release of their wages and job regularisation. They condemned the lathi charge on the protesters.
As the situation escalated, BJP members staged a walkout in protest, leading to a verbal confrontation between BJP and National Conference members in the House.
However, Abdullah clarified that the government did not order the police to use force on the protesters and expressed that they should have been treated with more empathy. “The protesters are our own, and their concerns are genuine,” he said. “This is not a financial issue but a humanitarian one. They deserved better treatment.”
He reassured that the concerns raised in the House would reach the police, adding, “Next time, when these people fight for their rights, batons will not be used against them.”
Intervening, Abdullah addressed BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa, who had raised the issue, saying, “You’ve asked a question, please wait for the answer.”
On the issue of police action, the Chief Minister reminded Randhawa, “Unfortunately, neither you nor I have control over the police.” He further pointed out that the actual authority over such matters lies elsewhere, suggesting that opposition members should have raised the issue somewhere else instead of creating a ruckus in the Assembly.
