Uproar, verbal duel in J-K Assembly over fund distribution

JAMMU: Amidst ruckus in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly over distribution of funds by the previous government, three legislators virtually came to blows when independent MLA Engineer Rashid used an " objectionable" word against National Conference.

During the question hour in the Assembly, Rashid while raising a supplementary question on details of funds released by the Road and Building Department under various heads in the state during the NC-Congress government tenure, took a dig at the NC.

"We want to know where the funds have gone, they (National Conference) distributed funds only in their own constituencies as if the funds belonged to their..." Rashid said.

Opposition NC members including Devender Singh Rana, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi, Mohammed Akbar Lone and Ali Mohammed Sagar strongly objected to the "unparliamentary" language used by Rashid.

Lone and Gurezi entered into a verbal duel with Rashid but were later pacified after the Speaker intervened.

Meanwhile, NC MLA Devender Singh Rana demanded that the Speaker expunge the "derogatory remarks" made by Rashid, to which the Speaker agreed.

As soon as Rashid began to speak and reiterated that he "stands by his words", Gurezi charged towards him, screaming at him to "control his language, behave like an MLA."

As Gurezi charged towards Rashid along with Lone, the marshals in the House had to intervene.

Amid high pitched noisy scenes, heated exchange of words continued between the two sides for some time and the order in the House was only restored after Speaker Kavinder Gupta intervened.