Why wood, not bricks? J&K MLA loses cool over inauguration plaque, asks to replace

National Conference MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi reprimanded engineers during a bridge inauguration over a wooden plaque, demanding a brickwork replacement within 24 hours.

In Short

• NC MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi upset over wooden inauguration plaque on bridge
• He demanded a brick plaque and gave engineers 24 hours to complete it
• J&K MLA highlighted his commitment to honesty and rejecting bribes

An unusual disagreement over an inauguration plaque turned into an angry exchange between a National Conference (NC) MLA and engineers during the inauguration of a bridge in South Kashmir's Anantnag, with the legislator questioning why a wooden plaque had been installed instead of one made of bricks.

NC MLA Abdul Majeed Larmi, who was inaugurating the bridge, took issue with the wooden plaque and reprimanded the engineers, describing the decision as a major mistake. He insisted that an inauguration plaque should be constructed using brickwork and gave the engineers a 24-hour ultimatum to complete it.

The MLA also appeared visibly upset as he spoke about the effort involved in getting public infrastructure projects sanctioned and executed, arguing that such work should not be undermined by what he considered avoidable mistakes.

In his remarks, Larmi questioned the purpose of the wooden plaque at an inauguration ceremony and drew a distinction between an inauguration and the laying of a foundation stone.

"We work hard to bring these projects, and you make them disappear into thin air. So, I am sorry, but what am I supposed to do here? What can I do?" he said.

"This is an inauguration. If it were not an inauguration, I would have accepted it. This is not a foundation stone. You take away the foundation stone from here. But this is not about a foundation stone; it is an inauguration," he added.

The MLA said he had initially intended to have the plaque constructed through brickwork but had stopped the work after noticing the wooden installation. He made it clear that he would allow the brickwork to proceed only if the engineers assured him that it would be completed by the following evening.

"I was getting this done through brickwork, and now I am stopping it. I will proceed with the brickwork only if you assure me by tomorrow evening that it will be completed by then," Larmi said.

Later explaining his reaction, the MLA said he sometimes lost his temper because he was committed to getting public works completed honestly and ensuring that people's grievances were addressed.

He said he did not want anyone to accuse him of accepting bribes or favours and maintained that he neither took anything himself nor allowed others to do so.

"Anyway, leave it. I am getting a little emotional, and I also tend to lose my temper quickly because my intentions are clear. I want to work with complete honesty. Nobody should ever be able to accuse me of having taken bribes or accepted any favours. I neither take anything myself nor allow anyone else to do so," he said.

Larmi added that his insistence on maintaining honesty in public work was one of the reasons behind his occasional outbursts.

- Ends