Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah had a heated argument in Jammu and Kashmir assembly today
Highlights
- Independent MLA asked about reports of setting up a 'Sainik Colony'
- An angry Ms Mufti accused Mr Abdullah of spreading rumours on Twitter
- Will continue tweeting and raising public issues, retorted Mr Abdullah
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah sparred angrily in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly this morning, with an argument over the setting of a "Sainik colony" fast turning personal.
Ms Mufti accused Mr Abdullah, a former chief minister, of spreading rumours on social media platform Twitter, on which the latter is very active.
"I know you will be happy if I delete my Twitter account," retorted Mr Abdullah, vowing to continue tweeting and "raising public issues through the forum".
The heated debate began after independent lawmaker Engineer Rashid quoted media reports on plans to set up a Sainik colony - a separate residential complex for former servicemen - and asked the government to explain them.
An angry chief minister responded by saying that she would not allow anybody to "destabilise peace by spreading false and inflammatory reports." She said her government would take strict against those who spread "such false news reports".
Ms Mufti also said,"My government supports media but we will act if unsubstantiated reports are printed to disrupt peace."
About an hour after the spat in assembly, Omar Abdullah took a dig at Ms Mufti in a series of tweets:
Ms Mufti's People's Democratic Party or PDP rules Jammu and Kashmir in partnership with the BJP, which favours the setting up of a Sainik Colony in Kashmir, a move opposed by the state's regional parties. The PDP has so far rejected the proposal saying there is no land to allot to "non-state subjects."
Also controversial is the BJP demand for separate resettlement colonies for Kashmiri Pandits who had to migrate out of the state when militancy was at its height in the state.