Avinash Azad
Tensions flared on Thursday morning at Sadda Broh village during the foundation stone-laying ceremony of a bridge set to connect the Kalakote and Budhal constituencies.
Senior BJP leader and MLA Kalakote, Randhir Singh, along with his supporters, clashed with police and National Conference (NC) workers after being allegedly barred from attending the event.
The event, presided over by Deputy Chief Minister (DyCM) Surinder Choudhary and MLA Budhal, Javaid Iqbal, turned chaotic as Singh and his supporters arrived at the site, demanding entry to the venue. Singh, visibly agitated, accused the administration of deliberately excluding him from the ceremony.
Speaking to the media at the site, Singh alleged, “My name was omitted from the guest list at the behest of the DyCM. This is nothing but a political conspiracy to sideline me.” The BJP MLA accused the DyCM of undermining his position, stating, “He (DyCM) should know the protocol. As the MLA of this constituency, I should have been a key participant in this event.”
Flanked by several dozen BJP workers, Singh lashed out at the NC-led government, claiming, “The Omar Abdullah-led government has repeatedly failed to bring development to this region. All ongoing projects, including this bridge, are gifts from the Modi Government.”
Singh further alleged procedural lapses in the project, stating, “The department laid the foundation stone without completing the necessary paperwork. This is an insult to the people of Kalakote.”
As Singh and his supporters attempted to storm the venue, they were met with heavy police resistance. Heated arguments quickly escalated into physical scuffles, with BJP workers clashing with both security personnel and NC supporters present at the site. Eyewitnesses reported slogans being chanted against the DyCM and NC leadership, adding to the charged atmosphere.
Singh did not mince words, calling the DyCM a “Dalal, Dalla” (broker) and questioning his credibility. “Despite being a member of the Legislative Council in the past and now the DyCM, he has no respect for protocol,” Singh said. The police eventually managed to restore order, but the incident has left political temperatures soaring in the region.
Responding to the accusations, DyCM Surinder Choudhary dismissed Singh’s allegations as baseless. “This is not about politics; it’s about development. The BJP MLA is trying to divert attention from real issues with theatrics,” said an official attended the function. The scuffle has drawn sharp reactions from political circles, with BJP leaders rallying behind Singh and NC leaders defending the administration’s actions.
