J&K Speaker Assures Fairness in Assembly, Says No One Can Disrespect Members’ Sentiments
Jammu, Mar 6 – Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Thursday asserted that no member of the House would be allowed to have their sentiments disregarded or disrespected. His statement came amid a heated exchange between legislators over controversial remarks made during the ongoing session.
The Speaker’s intervention was prompted by BJP MLA Sham Lal Sharma, who strongly objected to what he described as “unparliamentary language” used by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Mehraj Malik against opposition members. Sharma urged the Speaker to take action against Malik, emphasizing the need for maintaining decorum in the House.
The uproar erupted during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s address when Mehraj Malik, who was seated behind the treasury benches, launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led administration. Malik alleged that, apart from a surge in drug addiction, nothing had changed in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. He further accused the BJP of fostering a “culture of drugs,” triggering immediate protests from opposition members.
Speaker Rather promptly intervened to restore order, assuring legislators that he would not permit any individual to hurt or play with the sentiments of fellow members.
Despite the Speaker’s assurance, Malik continued his sharp critique, claiming that post-Article 370 revocation, liquor shops had multiplied, mafia activities had increased, and corruption had worsened in Jammu and Kashmir. He also alleged that lucrative development projects were being handed over to outsiders, leading to economic distress for local businesses and workers.
Amid his criticism of the government, Malik urged the administration to focus on boosting tourism and strengthening infrastructure to generate employment and enhance economic prospects for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Interestingly, the AAP legislator from Doda had stirred another controversy on Wednesday when he expressed displeasure over his seating arrangement in the House. He questioned why he was placed behind opposition members, prompting an intervention from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
In a lighthearted yet reassuring response, Abdullah clarified that the Speaker was responsible for seating arrangements and that the government had no role in the decision. Attempting to pacify Malik, he added, “You are in my heart and like a younger brother.”
The fiery exchanges and political maneuvering in the House underscore the rising tensions between opposition parties and the BJP-led administration, as contentious issues such as governance, economic policies, and the aftermath of Article 370’s revocation continue to dominate the Assembly’s proceedings.
