AAP MLA roughed up and rescued by marshals, glass tables broken, doors locked in chaotic scenes at J-K Assembly

BJP legislators who were protesting nearby and were already angry with Malik for describing their protests as “jamawara (crowd)” also joined in.

Security staff standing within the Assembly complex intervened and took Malik inside the lobby, but he allegedly passed some more remarks against the BJP and the late PDP leader, prompting legislators from both parties to catch hold of him. During the scuffle, some glass tables inside the lobby were broken.

Assembly Marshalls then came to Malik’s rescue and pushed him inside the House, which had already been adjourned by the Speaker till 1 pm. The BJP and PDP members tried to follow him inside, but they were stopped by the Marshalls, who locked the doors.

Walking over the Treasury Benches, Malik alleged that he had been attacked by the BJP, much to the shock of NC legislators such as cabinet minister Sakina Itoo. Malik was heard asking the NC members that the Superintendent of Police (secretariat security) be summoned to the House as he was also present during the attack but did nothing.

Outside the Assembly, BJP legislators accused Malik of being a “trouble maker”, alleging that he always uses derogatory and abusive language against leaders of other parties. They asked the Speaker to initiate action against him for his behaviour.

Malik, however, denied having said anything against the BJP and added that they “joined PDP members only to seek their support in the House”.

Meanwhile, the Assembly lobby, Central Hall and galleries occupied by media persons and the general public were vacated following the clash. PDP leader Arif, who had a tiff with Malik, was taken out of the civil secretariat by the security staff.

Chaos inside

Earlier, noisy scenes continued in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly for the third consecutive day, compelling Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather to adjourn the House until 1 pm.

Today was the last day of the first budget session of the Assembly under the new government. While the government has already concluded its business, private members’ business was listed in the House during the past three days.

The adjournment came after members from both the Treasury Benches and the opposition BJP accused each other of “doing drama” over the issue of discussing the Wakf Act and unemployment respectively.

While NC members kept raising slogans outside the Well of the House, BJP members entered it.

Trouble erupted soon after the House assembled for the day at 10 am, with NC members including Mubarak Gul and Nazir Gurezi standing up and pressing the Speaker to allow discussion on the Wakf Act. “You are citing rules for not allowing it, but we too have read them,” they said, asking the Speaker to use his discretionary powers.

At this, the Speaker informed the House that he had received another adjournment motion from BJP members on the issue of unemployment. The Speaker disallowed the motion, saying that it states unemployment is a recent problem, which it isn’t.

This prompted BJP members to stand on their seats and press for their motion. However, when NC’s Nazir Gurezi accused them of doing drama, BJP members stormed into the Well and held a sit-in there.