Srinagar, Sep 29 (NVI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday withdrew a bill seeking amendments to the law governing salaries and allowances of legislators after BJP members opposed the proposed hike in the Assembly.
The Jammu and Kashmir Legislature Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, L.A. Bill No. 14 of 2026, was listed for consideration and passage during the ongoing Assembly session.
Opposing the bill, BJP legislators urged the government to focus on the regularisation of daily-wage workers instead of increasing the salaries and allowances of MLAs.
Responding to the opposition, Abdullah said the government had the numbers to pass the legislation but he would not proceed with it if any member of the House objected.
“I had the majority, but I will not pass it. I will withdraw it,” the chief minister said.
Abdullah said the proposed changes were based on the recommendations of the concerned committee and noted that BJP members had also been part of the committee when the matter was discussed.
He said no objection had been raised at that stage but the issue was opposed when it came before the House.
“I was aware that they will politicise it, so I had made up my mind that if any member, even if it is one, opposes it, I will withdraw the Bill,” Abdullah said.
On the BJP’s demand for regularisation of daily wagers, the chief minister questioned why the issue had not been resolved during the previous administration’s tenure.
The exchange triggered a verbal discussion between the treasury and opposition benches, with BJP members reiterating their demand for action on the issue.
When the Speaker put the motion for withdrawal of the bill to the House, BJP members did not support it. The government subsequently withdrew L.A. Bill No. 14 of 2026.—(NVI)
