JAMMU, Feb 09 (KNS ) : Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather on Monday ordered a formal probe into allegations of unauthorised microphone usage by a PDP legislator, a controversy that has sparked a fresh political row and forced the Speaker to question if members needed to be "frisked."
The probe was announced after National Conference MLA Altaf Wani raised a point of order, alleging that PDP's Waheed-ur-Rehman Para was using a microphone in the House. Wani further charged that upon being confronted, Para passed the device to another PDP MLA, Muntazir Mehdi.
Taking serious note, Speaker Rather as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said the Assembly Secretariat would investigate and action would follow as per rules. "I will investigate the matter," he declared.
The Speaker termed the alleged act "childish" and detrimental to the House's dignity.
Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel"It is very sad. Do you want me to have members of the House frisked?" Rather asked in a moment of visible exasperation.
Meanwhile, Pushing back PDP's Mir Muhammad Fayaz dismissed the charges as "baseless," prompting a swift retort from the Chair. "Don’t defend the indefensible," the Speaker told the PDP legislator.
The controversy took another turn as NC's Kaloo demanded the Speaker forensically examine the speeches of Para and others to "find the difference," escalating the demand for evidence.
The order for an investigation marks a new low in the chamber's proceedings, turning a procedural issue into a full-blown political confrontation between the rival regional parties. (KNS)