NC Members Thump Desks as BJP MLA Devyani Rana Delivers Maiden Speech in J&K Assembly

NC Members Thump Desks as BJP MLA Devyani Rana Delivers Maiden Speech in J&K Assembly

An unusual moment of bipartisan courtesy unfolded in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly on Friday as BJP MLA Devyani Rana delivered her maiden speech, drawing desk-thumping from members of the ruling National Conference (NC) despite her sharp criticism of the Union Territory’s budget.

As Rana rose to speak during the discussion on the Budget 2026–27, NC legislators were seen thumping their desks — a gesture repeated at the conclusion of her address. Before she began, Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather urged members to encourage the first-time legislator, who won the recent Nagrota by-election following the death of her father, veteran politician Davinder Singh Rana.

Davinder Singh Rana, a long-time NC leader from Jammu and a close confidant of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, had switched to the BJP a few years before his death. Omar Abdullah has publicly described Rana’s exit from the NC as one of the biggest regrets of his political career. After his passing, the chief minister made an emotional speech in the Assembly recalling their long association. During the Nagrota by-election, the NC put up only a symbolic contest against Devyani Rana, with Omar Abdullah notably refraining from attacking the BJP candidate.

Speaking for around 12 minutes, Rana launched a data-backed critique of the budget presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who also holds the finance portfolio. She questioned what she described as steep cuts in allocations to key sectors such as disaster management, education, and welfare.

Rana pointed out that the allocation for disaster management and relief had been reduced to ₹350.76 crore from ₹719 crore in the previous year. She argued that the cut was unjustified, particularly in light of last year’s devastating flash floods, landslides, and cloudbursts in the Jammu region.

“This contraction comes in a year marked by unprecedented and incessant rainfall that devastated rural areas, especially in the Nagrota constituency,” she told the House, adding that disaster mitigation should have been a priority.

Jammu and Kashmir witnessed severe natural disasters in August and September last year, with dozens killed and hundreds of families displaced. Landslides during the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage and the Machail Yatra in Kishtwar alone claimed over 100 lives.

The BJP MLA also took aim at reduced spending on education, warning of long-term consequences. “If we spend ₹193 crore less than the previous budget, schools will be closed or merged. How will then a poor person’s child progress?” she asked.

Highlighting gaps in welfare delivery, Rana criticised the implementation of schemes such as free bus services for persons with disabilities, noting that many buses lacked disabled-friendly infrastructure.

Despite her scathing assessment of the Omar Abdullah-led government’s budget, Rana’s speech concluded with applause and desk-thumping from both treasury and opposition benches — a rare show of cross-party appreciation in the House, marking a striking debut for the young legislator from Nagrota.