J&K CM Mufti apologises over minister's 'I will lynch you here' remark

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday apologised over her party colleague and minister for sports Imran Raza Ansari’s remark, threatening to lynch National Conference MLA Davinder Singh Rana during a discussion on Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the State Legislative Assembly.

Mufti said that Ansari’s remark, for a moment, had shocked her. “I don’t think he meant to say what he said. But this should not have happened. I apologise for the remarks,” she said.

Ansari had, during a verbal dual with Rana on Tuesday, told him, “I can lynch you here. I know your shady businesses.”

As the House met in Srinagar on Wednesday, the second day of its special session, Rana sought action against Ansari and requested Speaker Kavinder Gupta to direct the State's Director General of Police to file an FIR against him.

“If anything happens to me, responsibility lies with the government,” he said. He added, “If you will not do it, I will walk up to the (concerned) Shaheed Ganj police station and do it. They can’t deny as this is a criminal case.”

Later, the Speaker also apologised and asked the members to stop threatening or abusing one another.