India, March 11 -- Asserting that the lathicharge on protesting daily-wage employees of the Jal Shakti department should not have happened, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said he did not hold control over the police.

As the House assembled for the day, opposition members highlighted the protests by the daily-wagers, demanding the release of wages and regularisation of jobs, and criticised the lathicharge on them on Monday.

The BJP members walked out of the House as ruckus erupted, when BJP and National Conference members engaged in a verbal duel on the issue. Intervening, Abdullah said, "You (BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa) have asked a question, please wait for the answer."

"As far as the police's treatment of the ...