Watch: Scuffle breaks out between lone AAP MLA and BJP leaders in J&K assembly
NEW DELHI: The Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly was adjourned for three hours on Wednesday after a heated scuffle that broke out between the BJP legislators and the lone AAP MLA Mehraaj Malik over the demand for a discussion on the Waqf Amendment Act. This marked the third consecutive day of uproar in the House on the issue.
The ruckus erupted after assembly speaker Abdul Rahim Lather once again disallowed an adjournment motion on the Waqf Act moved by members of the ruling National Conference and its alliance partners.
The House had reconvened this week after a 12-day recess.
As the session opened on Wednesday, NC members stormed the Well of the House, demanding a discussion. They were soon joined by opposition BJP legislators, led by Leader of the Opposition Sunil Sharma, who also entered the Well amid slogans from both sides. Some lawmakers staged a sit-in protest.
The continuing chaos follows the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, now an Act, in Parliament last week. The Rajya Sabha cleared the bill after a marathon 17-hour debate, with 128 votes in favor and 95 against, following earlier approval in the Lok Sabha after a 13-hour session.
