Mehbooba throws away speaker’s mike

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti snatched a mike from the speaker’s table and threw it away in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Monday after the speaker did not allow her to raise the Shopian rape and murder issue.

Speaker Akbar Lone did not allow Mehbooba to raise the issue as it was the opening day of the session when only obituary references to dead MLAs is made. When the session began, the BJP’s Ashok Khajuria raised the  issue of Central University coming up in Kashmir. He wanted it to come up in Jammu instead.   But the speaker said it was not the opportune time.

Next, Handwara’s MLA  tried to raise the issue of windstorm in Kupwara.  In the meantime, PDP MLAs demanded justice for the Shopian victims. But the speaker did not allow discussion. The MLAs, led by Mehbooba, stormed the well. The speaker called in the marshalls but an agitated Mehbooba broke cordon and reached the speaker’s table where she grabbed a mike and tossed it. She was trying to snatch another mike, but the speaker stopped her. Women marshals took Mehbooba out.

“Issues cannot be raised in the house by browbeating the speaker,” Lone said. Later Mehbooba and her MLAs staged a sit-in outside. “BJP and NC leaders were allowed to speak but we were denied,” she said. She threatened to demonstrate outside the house if they are not allowed to speak on Tuesday. 

Chief minister Omar Abdullah said, “You cannot win elections or people’s hearts by disturbing proceedings.”