JK Assembly rocked by unruly scenes; PDP MLA injured

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today witnessed unruly scenes as the opposition did not allow the House to function over its demand for setting up new administrative units in "ignored" areas of the state, forcing adjournment for the day.

Opposition PDP members trooped into the well alleging discrimination against certain areas which had not received new administrative units, which was followed by a scuffle between them and security staff that led to PDP MLA Mustaq Ahmed Shah getting injured.

As the Assembly began its proceedings for the day, PDP members led by Mehbooba Mufti stood up from the benches holding placards depicting discrimination in setting up new administrative units and marched into well of the House.

Speaker Mubarak Gul called the wait-and-watch staff into the well, leading to scuffle between them and PDP members for nearly half an hour amid uproarious scenes.

PDP MLAs were joined by members of BJP, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) and Independent members Hakeem Yasin and Engineer Rashid protesting alleged discrimination against their areas by the Omar Abdullah government.

Even Deputy Speaker Sartaj Madni was seen standing in protest as the opposition demanded new administrative units.

The Speaker's requests for calm in the House failed to pacify opposition, forcing him adjourn the House first for 15 minutes, then once more, before being adjourned for the day.

"We will not allow the House to run unless and until our demands of inclusion of our areas in the list of the new administrative units are not met by the government," Mufti told reporters here.

When the House reassembled after the second adjournment, PDP MLA Mustaq Ahmed Shah of Tral Assembly segment got injured when he got pushed by a Marshal and fell on a chair.

Tempers ran high as PDP MLAs resorted to throwing of chairs, tables and mikes resulting in pandemonium in the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day.

Commenting on the chaos, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on his Twitter account, "Seems they (opposition) really are totally shaken up by our decision to create so many new administrative units which has been well received".

"Want to see shameful behaviour of elected representatives - check out the opposition in the J&K assembly standing on tables," he said.

An angry Mehboob said, "People are protesting,legislators are bleeding and Omar Abdullah prefers tweeting."