India, Feb. 11 -- The logjam in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly finally broke on Wednesday afternoon after chief minister Omar Abdullah returned to the House and expressed regret over his remarks from the previous day. The chief minister's move brought an end to a standoff that had seen BJP legislators staging a sit-in in the well and paralysing proceedings since the start of the day's session.

Addressing the House as order was restored, the chief minister said: "If my words have hurt the sentiments of any member or the dignity of this House, I regret them."

He requested Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to expunge the controversial remarks from the official record, noting that while political exchanges are often heated, the decorum of the Hous...