This is an archive article published on July 6, 2017
Mehbooba Mufti apologises for Imran Ansari’s remarks in Assembly
“I was taken aback (by Ansari’s words),” Mufti said. “The words that were used weren’t appropriate. I personally apologise for it.” Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari had used the expunged words against National Conference legislator Devender Singh Rana.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti (Source: File)
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday apologised for the intimidatory words used by Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari in the House on Tuesday during a heated debate between members of the treasury and Opposition benches on the GST.
On Wednesday morning, Speaker Kavinder Gupta expressed apologies and expunged the words.
“I was taken aback (by Ansari’s words),” Mufti said. “The words that were used weren’t appropriate. I personally apologise for it.”
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Ansari had used the expunged words against National Conference legislator Devender Singh Rana. After Mufti’s apology, Rana, who had earlier in the day asked the Speaker to direct the police to register an FIR against Ansari, appeared to have calmed down. “I am grateful to the honourable CM,” he said. “I gracefully thank her for her
gesture.”
Earlier, both Ansari and Social Welfare Minister Sajad Lone maintained in the Assembly that the former did not mean to physically intimidate Rana with his remarks.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter. ... Read More