Devyani Rana Slams J&K Budget, Still Earns Praise from Omar Abdullah's MLAs
BJP MLA Devyani Rana critiques the J&K budget sharply and receives warm applause from NC MLAs.
In a rare display of cross-party courtesy, BJP MLA Devyani Rana received praise from ruling National Conference (NC) legislators in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Saturday, despite delivering a sharp critique of the Union Territory’s budget presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Rana, a first-time legislator who won a recent assembly by-election, was making her maiden speech in the House when members from the treasury benches were seen thumping their desks—both during and after her address. The gesture stood out as her speech directly questioned the priorities and allocations outlined in the budget.
Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather played a key role in setting the tone. Before Rana began speaking, he urged members across party lines to encourage new legislators, stressing the importance of maintaining parliamentary decorum and nurturing healthy debate, especially for first-time MLAs.
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NC members later said their applause was not an endorsement of Rana’s criticism but an acknowledgement of her confidence, preparation, and adherence to legislative norms. They also pointed to the Speaker’s appeal as a reminder that democratic debate should allow space for dissent without personal animosity.
Devyani Rana, the daughter of senior politician Davinder Singh Rana, focused her speech on what she described as gaps in development planning and fiscal priorities, particularly affecting certain regions of the Union Territory. Her remarks drew political contrast but avoided personal attacks, which observers say contributed to the positive response.
The episode was widely seen as a moment of parliamentary maturity in an otherwise polarised political climate, highlighting that robust criticism and mutual respect can coexist on the floor of the House—even between ideological rivals.
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